Bihar polls: RJD leader arrested after filing nominations

“As Sah reached the office of the circle officer to file his nomination papers from the Sasaram seat, Jharkhand Police officers arrived there to execute a non-bailable warrant,” a senior Rohtas district officer said.

“He was arrested and was not allowed to complete the filing process. We are not aware of the nature of the case in which the NBW was issued,” the officer added.

Sah’s arrest marks the third such incident in recent days involving INDIA bloc candidates. Earlier, CPI(ML) Liberation nominees Jitendra Paswan (Bhore) and Satyadeo Ram (Darauli) were also detained soon after submitting their nominations.

The CPI(ML), a key constituent of the opposition alliance in Bihar, strongly condemned the arrests, calling them “politically motivated”.

“We strongly condemn the arrests of Comrade Jitendra Paswan and Comrade Satyadeo Ram under fabricated and baseless charges. These arrests reveal the fear and panic among NDA leaders, who feel threatened by the growing assertion of the people,” the party said in a statement.

“The BJP-JD(U) alliance, unable to face public anger over unemployment, price rise, and corruption, is resorting to repression and misuse of state power,” the CPI(ML) statement added.

Political observers note that such incidents could deepen the trust deficit between the ruling alliance and opposition parties. The repeated arrests of opposition candidates, even before their candidacies are confirmed, are being seen as a disturbing signal for democratic norms in the state.

Elections for the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on 6 and 11 November, with counting on 14 November. For the NDA, retaining power in Bihar is crucial to maintaining its larger narrative of governance stability befaore the 2026 general elections.

For the INDIA bloc, on the other hand, the state represents a testing ground for opposition unity and street-level mobilisation.