In a significant political development, the notorious 'Khan brothers'-Ayub Khan and Rayees Khan-have officially joined the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan. The duo, who have long been linked to criminal activities across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh are inducted into the party on Wednesday in Siwan. Their entry is seen as a calculated political move, marking a shift in alliances ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

The Khan brothers, once feared figures in the region, had initially sought to join Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), but sources claimed their request was not approved. After this setback, they aligned themselves with Chirag Paswan's LJP (RV), and their joining was formalised during a 'Milan Samaroh' event in Siwan, where the party chief Chirag Paswan was present. The Khan brothers even arranged a helicopter for Paswan for the event, displaying their commitment to the party.

LJP (RV) posted on X, "Ayub Khan and Rayees Khan, along with their supporters, joined the party after being inspired by Chirag Paswan's able leadership and his 'Bihar First, Bihari First' vision. This is a significant step towards commitment to the party's principles."

Rayees Khan, the younger of the two, is particularly notorious, with over 30 criminal cases against him, including charges of murder, kidnapping, extortion, and dacoity. He has been named in high-profile cases, including the 2022 kidnapping and murder of three youths from Siwan. His criminal activities led to a reward for his arrest by the Bihar government. He was also accused of involvement in the murdering of two police personnel named B K Yadav and Ganesh Prasad Yadav in the Siwan district.

"Rayees Khan's name appeared on the list of the 10 most-wanted criminals of Siwan,” a senior IPS officer who formerly was the SP of Siwan said.  Despite his criminal record, Rayees contested local elections in 2022 but was allegedly attacked during his campaign. Rayes then accused Osama, son of former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, and his supporters of planning the attack.

In an FIR filed with the Siwan police, Rayees Khan accused Osama and eight others of being involved in the attack on his vehicle. The attack was carried out using an AK-47 assault rifle, with the apparent aim of killing him. Fortunately, Rayees Khan survived the assault.

The Khan brothers initially worked with the gang of infamous criminal-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin but parted ways after disagreements with Shahabuddin's family. Rayees Khan was arrested in 2006 for multiple criminal charges, though he later returned to the political fray, attempting to join JD(U) before finally joining LJP (RV).

Rayees has now announced his intent to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections from Siwan, marking the Khan brothers’ entry as a new chapter in Bihar’s political landscape. Their joining LJP (RV) on January 15 signals a significant shift in the region’s political dynamics.