PATNA: One of the parliamentary constituencies in Bihar on which the whole of the state’s eyes are set is Siwan — presently represented in Parliament by Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Mohammad Shahabuddin. The RJD strongman, who has represented this constituency for three consecutive terms, has fielded his wife Hena Shahab, in his place this time.
Shahabuddin is lodged in Siwan jail on various charges and have been awarded life term by a court in a murder case. He was not given permission by the court to contest elections. However, his wife has just one agenda that she insists she would pursue, if elected, undoing the injustice that certain leaders and others have meted to her incarcerated husband.
Talking to reporters about his plunge into politics, she said that her only aim is to see that her husband is a free man. “I only hope and pray that the hundreds and thousands of youngsters who are solidly behind us succeed in ensuring my victory. That would be a resounding slap on the faces of all those elements which took advantage of my husband’s trusting nature and ditched him.”
Hena said, “My husband has been made out to be a blood-thirsty monster. I am his wife and surely know her better than others. He is more sensitive than most of the people around, tirelessly strived for the uplift and all-round development of his constituency. He started an engineering college, a polytechnic for town’s girls and did several other social and developmental works. When he was not allowed to contest, he decided to field me to carry forward the good works being done in Siwan.”
