Bihar Elections 2025: RJD’s Sasaram Candidate Arrested After Nomination
RJD ’s Satendra Sah filed his nomination papers for the Sasaram Assembly seat on Monday, but the moment quickly spiraled into chaos. Just as he exited the nomination office, Jharkhand Police swooped in to arrest him. A senior Rohtas district officer confirmed Sah was allowed to complete the nomination process before his arrest. His supporters were reportedly caught off-guard, completely unaware of any pending legal issues. The arrest created a stir at the nomination centre and has since triggered heated political reactions across the state.
Old Case Resurfaces: The 2004 Bank Robbery Link
The arrest was not sudden without legal grounds. According to Jharkhand Police, Sah was wanted in a 2004 bank robbery case at Chirounjiya More in Garhwa district. A permanent non-bailable warrant had been issued against him in 2018. Sunil Tiwari, officer-in-charge at Garhwa’s Sadar police station, revealed that over 20 cases, including robbery, dacoity, and Arms Act violations, are pending against Sah. While Sah has been active politically, his criminal past appears to have finally caught up with him at a politically sensitive time.
Pattern Emerging? INDIA Bloc Candidates Targeted
Satendra Sah’s arrest marks the third instance where INDIA bloc candidates were detained post-nomination. Earlier, CPI(ML) Liberation’s Jitendra Paswan (Bhore) and Satyadeo Ram (Darauli) were also arrested under similar circumstances. CPI(ML) strongly condemned these arrests, calling them politically motivated.
Their statement read: "They were arrested right outside the nomination centres immediately after filing their papers. These arrests, under fabricated and baseless charges, clearly reveal the fear and panic among the NDA leaders." The pattern has stirred concerns over electoral fairness.
Opposition Slams NDA: Calls It Intimidation Tactic
CPI(ML) and other opposition voices have accused the BJP-JD(U) alliance of misusing state machinery to suppress political opponents. CPI(ML) added, "Unable to confront the growing anger against its failed 'double-engine' government, the BJP-JD(U) alliance is resorting to repression, intimidation, and misuse of police and administrative machinery to silence democratic opposition and suppress people's voices." This charge adds to the intensifying political tension in Bihar ahead of elections. The opposition sees these arrests as a desperate move by the ruling coalition to prevent electoral challenges.
All Eyes on Bihar Polls Amid Controversies
Bihar is headed for a high-stakes election with voting scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11. Results will be declared on November 14. With multiple arrests of opposition candidates, the election narrative has shifted from development to political suppression. The INDIA bloc is likely to make these incidents central to its campaign, while the NDA will need to defend the police actions. As the countdown begins, voters now face not just campaign promises but also serious questions around democratic processes and electoral justice.
Old Case Resurfaces: The 2004 Bank Robbery Link
The arrest was not sudden without legal grounds. According to Jharkhand Police, Sah was wanted in a 2004 bank robbery case at Chirounjiya More in Garhwa district. A permanent non-bailable warrant had been issued against him in 2018. Sunil Tiwari, officer-in-charge at Garhwa’s Sadar police station, revealed that over 20 cases, including robbery, dacoity, and Arms Act violations, are pending against Sah. While Sah has been active politically, his criminal past appears to have finally caught up with him at a politically sensitive time. Pattern Emerging? INDIA Bloc Candidates Targeted
Satendra Sah’s arrest marks the third instance where INDIA bloc candidates were detained post-nomination. Earlier, CPI(ML) Liberation’s Jitendra Paswan (Bhore) and Satyadeo Ram (Darauli) were also arrested under similar circumstances. CPI(ML) strongly condemned these arrests, calling them politically motivated.Their statement read: "They were arrested right outside the nomination centres immediately after filing their papers. These arrests, under fabricated and baseless charges, clearly reveal the fear and panic among the NDA leaders." The pattern has stirred concerns over electoral fairness.
Opposition Slams NDA: Calls It Intimidation Tactic
CPI(ML) and other opposition voices have accused the BJP-JD(U) alliance of misusing state machinery to suppress political opponents. CPI(ML) added, "Unable to confront the growing anger against its failed 'double-engine' government, the BJP-JD(U) alliance is resorting to repression, intimidation, and misuse of police and administrative machinery to silence democratic opposition and suppress people's voices." This charge adds to the intensifying political tension in Bihar ahead of elections. The opposition sees these arrests as a desperate move by the ruling coalition to prevent electoral challenges.All Eyes on Bihar Polls Amid Controversies
Bihar is headed for a high-stakes election with voting scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11. Results will be declared on November 14. With multiple arrests of opposition candidates, the election narrative has shifted from development to political suppression. The INDIA bloc is likely to make these incidents central to its campaign, while the NDA will need to defend the police actions. As the countdown begins, voters now face not just campaign promises but also serious questions around democratic processes and electoral justice. Next Story