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{{short description|20th Chief Minister of Bihar}}
{{NPOV}}{{citecheck}}{{copyedit}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
'''Lalu Prasad ]''' (Also spelt Laloo Prasad yadav <ref>Earlier, media used to spell ''Lalu'' as ''Laloo''. In June, ], Lalu clarified that his name should be spelt as ''Lalu'' and not ''Laloo''. {{cite web
{{Infobox officeholder
| url=http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/24lalu.htm
| name = Lalu Prasad
| title=It's Lalu not Laloo and it's official (June 24, 2004)
| image = The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad addressing the Media to announce a policy matter in New Delhi on September 12, 2004.jpg
| publisher=Rediff.com
| imagesize =
| accessdate=2006-05-08
| caption = Lalu as ], addressing in ] on 12 September 2004
| office = 30th ]
| primeminister = ]
| term_start = 24 May 2004
| term_end = 23 May 2009
| predecessor = ]
| successor = ]
| office1 = President of the ]
| predecessor1 = ''office established''
| successor1 =
| office2 = 20th ]
| governor2 = ]
| predecessor2 = ]
| successor2 = ]
| term_start3 = 10 March 1990
| term_end3 = 28 March 1995
| governor3 = ]
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| office4 = ]
| term_start4 = 22 May 2009
| term_end4 = 3 October 2013
| predecessor4 = ''constituency established''
| successor4 = ]
| constituency4 = ]
| office5 =
| term_start5 =
| term_end5 =
| constituency5 =
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 =
| term_start6 = 24 May 2004
| term_end6 = 22 May 2009
| predecessor6 = ]
| successor6 = ''constituency abolished''
| constituency6 = ]
| term_start7 = 10 March 1998
| term_end7 = 26 April 1999
| predecessor7 = ]
| successor7 = ]
| constituency7 = ]
| term_start8 = 2 December 1989
| term_end8 = 10 March 1990
| predecessor8 = Rambahadur Singh
| successor8 = ]
| constituency8 = ]
| party = ]
| otherparty = ]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|6|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = ] (],])<ref name="GE2004">https://affidavitarchive.eci.nic.in/Affidavit/GE2004_Affidavits/Bihar/GE/7/LaluPrasad/LaluPrasad_sc6.html</ref>
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1973}}
| relations = ] (son-in-law) <br/> ] (son-in-law) <br/> ] (brother-in-law) <br/> ] (brother-in-law)
| children = 9 (including ], ] and ])
| father = Kundan Rai
| mother = Marachhiya Devi
| state = ]
| website = {{URL|https://rjd.co.in/shri-lalu-prasad/}}
| termstart1 = 5 July 1997
| termstart2 = 4 April 1995
| termend2 = 25 July 1997
| termstart10 = 10 April 2002
| termend10 = 13 May 2004
| termend9 = 22 August 1979
| termstart9 = 23 March 1977
| constituency10 = ]
| constituency9 = ]
| predecessor9 = Ramshekhar Prasad Singh
| successor9 = Satya Deo Singh
| office10 = ]
| office11 = 12th ]
| termstart11 = 18 March 1989
| termend11 = 7 December 1989
| termstart12 = 3 March 2000
| termend12 = 10 April 2002
| constituency12 = ]
| termstart13 = 4 April 1995
| termend13 = 10 March 1998
| constituency13 = ]
| predecessor11 = ]
| predecessor12 = ]
| successor11 = ]
| successor12 = ]
| predecessor13 = ]
| successor13 = Rajgir Choudhary
| office14 =
| termstart14 = 8 June 1980
| termend14 = 2 December 1989
| constituency14 = ]
| office15 = ]
| termstart15 = 7 May 1990
| termend15 = 4 April 1995
| constituency15 = ''elected by Legislative assembly member's''
| predecessor14 = ]
| successor14 = Raj Kumar Roy
| office12 = ]
}} }}
</ref>) .(]: लालू प्रसाद यादव) (born ]<ref>The official birthdate of Lalu Prasad Yadav is ], ], but his actual birthdate is unknown. {{cite web
| url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03june12/national.htm
| title=B’day bash only when communal forces are wiped out: Laloo
| publisher=Daily Excelsior
| accessdate=2006-05-08
}}
</ref>),an ] ],known for ] and ] <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030816/windows/sight.htm
| title=Laloo in Wonderland
|author=Amita Malik
| publisher=The Tribune
| accessdate=2006-05-18
}}
</ref> is the ] of ] for ] in the ] government and also the president of the ], a ] of ].Earlier he had been the ] of ] for seven years credited with being only person in chair having made official foreign visits.According to ], he is the longest serving President of an Indian Political Party <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041018/nation.htm#5
| title=Laloo enters Limca Book of Records
| publisher=The Tribune
| accessdate=2006-08-24
}}
</ref>


'''Lalu Prasad'''<ref name="GE2004"/> (born 11 June 1948) is an ] and president of the ] (RJD).<ref name="myneta">{{cite web|title=Scanned Copy of 2009 Lok Sabha election affidavit|url=http://docs.myneta.info/affidavits/ls2009db/965/LaluPrasad_CR1.jpg|publisher=Association of Democratic Reforms|access-date=4 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011121/http://docs.myneta.info/affidavits/ls2009db/965/LaluPrasad_CR1.jpg|archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=RediffDOB>{{cite news | url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/slide-show-1-lalu-prasad-yadav-the-shrewd-politicians-highs-and-lows/20130930.htm | title=Lalu Prasad Yadav: The shrewd politician's highs and lows | date=30 September 2013 | publisher=Rediff | access-date=16 July 2018 | archive-date=17 July 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717041633/http://www.rediff.com/news/report/slide-show-1-lalu-prasad-yadav-the-shrewd-politicians-highs-and-lows/20130930.htm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>While the Indian media was unsure as to the spelling of his name, in June 2004, he issued a clarification to the media to endure his name was spelt as ''Lalu'' and not ''Laloo''.{{cite web| url=https://us.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/24lalu.htm| title=It's Lalu not Laloo and it's official (24 June 2004)| work=Rediff.com| access-date=8 May 2006| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913014530/http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/24lalu.htm| archive-date=13 September 2005}}</ref> He is a former ] (1990-1997), a former ] (2004-2009), and a former ] (MP) of the ]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Latest News of Lalu Prasad Yadav |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/topic/lalu-prasad-yadav }}</ref> & ].
==Background==

Lalu Prasad Yadav was born in a poor ] family. His father's name was Kundana Raiye. His native place is ] (district ], ]). His parents were poor farmers. He earnt a Master's degree in ] from ]. Lalu's first political step was involvement in the elections of the ] University students union, where he led the student movement inspired by ] in the ].
He entered politics at ] as a student leader and in 1977 at the age of 29, was elected as the youngest member of the Lok Sabha for the ]. He became the ] in 1990. His party came to power in ] in partnership with ] of ]. This coalition ended when Nitish resigned and RJD was ousted, becoming the opposition party.

In ], RJD remained the single largest party in Bihar, and along with JD(U) in power after JD(U) rejoined ] in 2022, headed the government until JD(U) returned to ]. Lalu was convicted in the controversial ], and was serving a term until 17 April 2021, when he was granted bail from the ].<ref name="Lalu Yadav granted bail: HC">{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patna-news/lalu-yadav-granted-bail-in-fodder-scam-case-by-jharkhand-high-court-101618643713744-amp.html|title=Lalu Yadav granted bail: HC|website=Hindustan Times|date=17 April 2021|access-date=19 April 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418200327/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patna-news/lalu-yadav-granted-bail-in-fodder-scam-case-by-jharkhand-high-court-101618643713744-amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Lalu Prasad, the fifth of six sons<ref name="siblings">{{Cite AV media|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zLUd3BKyHJQ|title=Lalu Yadav Story : कितने भाई-बहन हैं लालू यादव के, सबसे बड़ा कौन, बहनों के साथ कैसा बीता बचपन, जानिए|publisher=Live Cities Media Private limited|language=Hindi|orig-date=2022-06-11|access-date=2024-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-3-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey|last=Yadav|first=Lalu Prasad|last2=Verma|first2=Nalin|publisher=Rupa Publications India|year=2019|page=3|language=English|quote=I was fifth among my brothersMangru Rai being the eldest and Sukhdeo the youngest. My immediate elder brother, Mahavir Rai, and immediate younger one, Sukhdeo, are alive at the time of writing this book. My lone sister, Gaboderi Devi, who was elder|author-link=Lalu_Prasad_Yadav|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130193226/https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-3-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|archive-date=2024-11-30}}</ref> born to Kundan Rai and Marachhiya Devi, was born on June 11, 1948, in Phulwaria village,<ref name="Sansad">https://sansad.in/ls/members</ref> situated along the Gopalganj-Kushinagar highway (]) in ] of ]. He started his education at a local middle school before moving to Patna with his older brother, Mukund Rai, who enrolled him in an upper primary school in Sheikhpura. After finishing his primary education there, he was enrolled in the Government Middle School located on the Bihar Military Police (BMP) campus, which was next to their quarters at the veterinary college campus.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-5-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey|last=Yadav|first=Lalu Prasad|last2=Verma|first2=Nalin|publisher=Rupa Publications India|year=2019|page=5|language=English|quote=I also requested Mukund Bhai, but he refused to listen to my pleas. He took me to Patna... got me admitted to an upper primary school in Sheikhpura... After completing my primary education at the Sheikhpura school, I was admitted to the Government Middle School, Bihar Military Police (BMP) campus, adjacent to our quarters at the veterinary college campus.|author-link=Lalu_Prasad_Yadav|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201040138/https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-5-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html|archive-date=2024-12-01}}</ref><ref name="teh">{{cite news|title=The Promise And Betrayal Of Lalu Prasad Yadav|url=http://www.tehelka.com/the-promise-and-betrayal-of-lalu-prasad-yadav/|access-date=4 October 2013|newspaper=Tehlka.com|date=3 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013071638/http://www.tehelka.com/the-promise-and-betrayal-of-lalu-prasad-yadav/|archive-date=13 October 2013}}</ref>
===Siblings===
The Siblings list is in the order of age.<ref name="siblings"/><ref name="book">{{Cite book|url=https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-3-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey|last=Yadav|first=Lalu Prasad|last2=Verma|first2=Nalin|publisher=Rupa Publications India|year=2019|page=3|language=English|quote=I was fifth among my brothersMangru Rai being the eldest and Sukhdeo the youngest. My immediate elder brother, Mahavir Rai, and immediate younger one, Sukhdeo, are alive at the time of writing this book. My lone sister, Gaboderi Devi, who was elder|author-link=Lalu_Prasad_Yadav|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130193226/https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-3-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|archive-date=2024-11-30}}</ref>
# Mangru Rai (eldest)
# Gulab Rai
# Mukund Rai
# Mahavir Rai
# Gangotri Devi (lone sister)
# Lalu Prasad (himself only alive)
# Sukhdeo Rai (youngest)

His father passed away after he completed his matriculation in 1965<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-5-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey|last=Yadav|first=Lalu Prasad|last2=Verma|first2=Nalin|publisher=Rupa Publications India|year=2019|page=5|language=English|quote=I dont have a photograph of my father. He died after I passed my matriculation examination in 1965.|author-link=Lalu_Prasad_Yadav|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201040138/https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-5-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html|archive-date=2024-12-01}}</ref> from Miller High School in Patna, where he was also a passionate footballer. He changed its name to Devipad Choudhary Shaheed Smarak (Miller) Ucchya Madhyamik Vidyalaya in honour of Devipad Choudhary, who was a freedom fighter and student of the same school.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-6-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey|last=Yadav|first=Lalu Prasad|last2=Verma|first2=Nalin|publisher=Rupa Publications India|year=2019|page=6|language=English|quote=Meanwhile, I emerged as a passionate footballer at Miller High School... Incidentally, after I became the chief minister many years later, I ordered a change in the schools name. I had nothing against the original name, but felt that an eminent person from Bihar should be honoured. Thus, Miller was replaced by Devipad Choudharyafter a freedom fighter who was shot during the Quit India movement. He had studied in Miller school.|author-link=Lalu_Prasad_Yadav|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201044747/https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-6-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|archive-date=2024-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/when-seven-youths-died-trying-to-hoist-indian-flag-at-patna-secretariat-in-1942/1081289|title=When seven youths died trying to hoist Indian flag at Patna Secretariat in 1942|date=2022-08-13|access-date=2024-12-01|publisher=Press Trust of India|last=Dutt|first=Kunal|orig-date=2022-08-13|language=English|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908042446/https://theprint.in/india/when-seven-youths-died-trying-to-hoist-indian-flag-at-patna-secretariat-in-1942/1081289/|archive-date=2024-09-08}}</ref> He was also a ] cadet, there. According to his Lok Sabha affidavit, he obtained his I.A. (Arts) from B.N. College of ] the following year. However, it is noteworthy that B.N. College does not offer this course,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190825034322/http://www.bncollegepatna.com/ug_program.php</ref> and the program typically spans two years,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20241111135247/https://biharboardonline.com/about-us.html</ref> yet he claims to have completed it in the same year, he got enrolled there.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-6-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|title=Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey|last=Yadav|first=Lalu Prasad|last2=Verma|first2=Nalin|publisher=Rupa Publications India|year=2019|page=6|language=English|quote=In 1966, I secured admission in BN College, affiliated to Patna University.|author-link=Lalu_Prasad_Yadav|access-date=2024-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201044747/https://litark.com/books/politics/297231-6-lalu-prasad-yadav-gopalganj-to-raisina-my.html#text|archive-date=2024-12-01}}</ref> After earning his ] degree, he worked as a clerk at ] in ], where his eldest brother was employed as a peon.<ref name="NH">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/modest-roots-and-lifestyle-of-lalu-yadavs-siblings|title=Modest roots and lifestyle of Lalu Yadav’s siblings|date=2018-01-09|access-date=2024-12-01|publisher=National Herald|last=Amitabha|first=Pallavi|orig-date=2018-01-09|language=English|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207185626/https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/modest-roots-and-lifestyle-of-lalu-yadavs-siblings#bypass-sw|archive-date=2023-02-07}}</ref> During his time there, he served as the General Secretary of the Patna University Students' Union from 1970 to 1971 and later became its President from 1973 to 1974.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220923172930/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/profile-lalu-prasad-yadav/articleshow/2015298.cms</ref><ref name="Sansad"/> He later earned his L.L.B. degree from ] in 1976.<ref>http://ceobihar.nic.in/election/Bihar%20Affidavits/ELECTION%20COMMISSION%20OF%20INDIA.htm</ref><ref name="GE2004"/><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240715045340/https://www.myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=7779</ref> Lalu Prasad asserts that he belongs to ] caste;<ref name="toi">{{cite news|title=Lalu, the milkman's son who rose from clerk to CM|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalu-the-milkmans-son-who-rose-from-clerk-to-CM/articleshow/23325515.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003101948/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-01/india/42573630_1_lalu-prasad-fodder-scam-rjd|archive-date=3 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013|newspaper=]|url-status=live|date=1 October 2013}}</ref> however, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, ],<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20231012151424/https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/patna/rjd-chief-lalu-yadav-belong-to-which-caste-samrat-chaudhary-revealed-biggest-secret-of-bihar/articleshow/104241448.cms</ref>],<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240927014431/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bihar-jitan-ram-manjhi-lalu-prasad-spat-over-caste-identity/articleshow/113698641.cms</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240929035418/https://www.aajtak.in/programmes/newsroom/video/politics-on-caste-intensifies-in-bihar-war-of-words-between-jitanram-manjhi-and-lalu-yadav-2054888-2024-09-27</ref>among others, have alleged that his actual caste is ]. He turned down Patna University's Honorary Doctorate in 2004.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Laloo-says-no-to-PU-doctorate/articleshow/416244.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061120/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-01-11/patna/28331561_1_doctorate-pu-syndicate-patna-university-syndicate | archive-date=21 September 2013 | work=] | title=Laloo says 'no' to PU doctorate | url-status=live | date=11 January 2004}}</ref>

==Personal life and family==
{{See also|Political families of Bihar#Lalu Yadav family}}

Lalu married ] on 1 June 1973, in an ], and they went on to have seven daughters and two sons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-paid-off-a-debt-to-his-wife-handsomely-1093659 |title=Lalu paid off a debt to his wife handsomely |work=DNA |date=19 November 2013 |access-date=29 September 2022 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929223853/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-paid-off-a-debt-to-his-wife-handsomely-1093659 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=FamilyUnplanning>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/05/08/stories/2004050800031000.htm | title=The durability of Laloo Prasad Yadav | work=] | date=8 May 2004 | access-date=24 February 2012 | author=Thakurta, Paranjoy Guha | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008033632/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/05/08/stories/2004050800031000.htm | archive-date=8 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theprint.in/politics/sons-in-bihar-cabinet-daughters-wed-to-mulayam-kin-sprawling-lalu-family-tree-spans-party-lines/1095654/ |title=Sons in Bihar cabinet, daughters wed to Mulayam kin - sprawling Lalu family tree spans party lines |work=The Print |date=24 August 2022 |access-date=19 September 2022 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173013/https://theprint.in/politics/sons-in-bihar-cabinet-daughters-wed-to-mulayam-kin-sprawling-lalu-family-tree-spans-party-lines/1095654/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

* eldest daughter: ]
* 2nd daughter: Rohini Acharya Yadav
* 3rd daughter: Chanda Yadav
* 4th daughter: Ragini Yadav - married to Rahul Yadav, ] leader<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/swiss-educated-lalu-s-son-in-law-talks-growth/story-eCdvMxa1WoUYLc9s9BQ6pO.html |title=Lalu's Swiss-educated son-in-law hops on Samajwadi cycle, chants growth mantra |work=Hindustan Times |date=7 February 2017 |access-date=14 September 2022 |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914205011/https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/swiss-educated-lalu-s-son-in-law-talks-growth/story-eCdvMxa1WoUYLc9s9BQ6pO.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 5th daughter: Hema Yadav
* 6th daughter: Anushka Yadav (Dhannu) - married to ]
* elder son: ]
* youngest daughter: Raj Lakshmi Yadav - married to ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/patna/younger-sister-touched-feet-tej-pratap-yadav-users-trolls-rjd-leader-respond-by-touching-feet-elder-sister-misa-bharti/articleshow/85553362.cms|title=Tej Pratap Yadav News: छोटी बहन ने पैर छुए तो ट्रोलर्स ने तेज प्रताप यादव को घेरा, फिर मीसा के पांव छूकर आरजेडी नेता ने दिया तगड़ा जवाब}}</ref>
* younger son: ]

'''Note:''' Rahul Yadav is son of Jitendra Yadav, former ] from the ]. Jitendra is the nephew of former MP ].


==Political career== ==Political career==
Lalu came into the limelight when he handed over a charter of demands to India's then ], ], during the emergency (see:]) as a student leader. He was first elected to the ] in ] at the age of 29. Within a short span of 10 years, he became a formidable force in ] state politics. During the 1989 general and state assembly elections, he led the ] coalition in Bihar to become a major political leader. He was soon elected Chief Minister of Bihar. Bihar was infamous for having many CMs in a short span of time before his appointment. He broke this jinx by lasting a full term. He surprised many with his performance in the following state assembly election by managing a majority on his own. Soon after Lalu became chief minister of Bihar in 1989, the ] started the Mandir-agitation where an Indian politician ] who is known for playing blatant communal politics, had threatened that if he was arrested there would be all around bloodshed in Bihar.{{fact}} L K Advani was also charged with delivering inflammatory speeches against minorities. Lalu Yadav ordered the arrest of ] during the ] on ] ] at ]. Laloo prevented Hindu-Muslim riots, which could have easily begun at that point, particularly in ], which had an uninterrupted record of communal violence going back to 1930s.The ] once lauded his party<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20556842%7EpagePK:141137%7EpiPK:217854%7EtheSitePK:295584,00.html
| title=World Bank Report : Bihar - Towards a Development Strategy
| publisher=World Bank
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}
</ref> for its work in the ] on the economic front.


===1970–1990: Student leader and youngest MP===
According to the ], police unearthed a ] in ] worth Rs 950 ] (US$ 267 Million) in Bihar (going back into the previous Congress government) which allegedly involved Lalu and the state's leading bureaucrats and politicians however the probe itself was ordered by him.<ref>
] in ], Sonpur in 1988]]
{{cite web
In 1970, Lalu entered in student politics as the general secretary of the Patna University Students' Union (PUSU), became its president in 1973,<ref name=teh /> joined ]' ] in 1974<ref name=bs>{{Cite book|last=Dhar|first=P. N.|title=Excerpted from 'Indira Gandhi, the "emergency", and Indian democracy' published in ''Business Standard''|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-564899-7|url=http://business-standard.com/india/news/the-nav-nirman-movement/80363/|access-date=23 November 2012|year=2000|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043300/https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/the-nav-nirman-movement-100021901024_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> where he became sufficiently close to ] (JP) leaders to become the Janta alliance's winning candidate in the ] from ] at the age of 29.<ref name=teh /><ref name="UK">{{cite news|title=Obituary: Morarji Desai|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-morarji-desai-1615165.html|newspaper=The Independent|first=Kuldip|last=Singh|date=11 April 1995|access-date=27 June 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103104550/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-morarji-desai-1615165.html|archive-date=3 November 2012}}</ref>
| url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050518/main1.htm
| title=More charges framed against Lalu Yadav
| publisher=The Tribune
| accessdate=2006-05-08
}}
</ref> The fodder scam forced him to resign as chief minister<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3514292.stm
| title=Profile: Laloo Prasad Yadav
| publisher=BBC News
| accessdate=2006-05-08
}}
</ref>
and install his wife, ], as his successor. He was at a striking distance to become ] of India when ] thwarted his chance and compelled him to loose Chief Ministreal berth. He formed the ] in 1997, after breaking away from the Janata Dal.After ruling Bihar for 15 years, in the November ] elections, his party,the RJD could win just 54 seats, which put his party in third place, after the Janata Dal United(JDU) and the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP).


In 1979, the Janata Party government fell due to in-fighting. The parliament was dissolved with new polls held in 1980. Lalu quit Janta party to join the splinter group, Janta Party-S led by ], only to lose the ] in 1980. He managed to win ] election later in 1980, and again in 1985 to become leader of opposition in Bihar assembly in 1989. Later in 1989, he was also elected for ] under ] government. By 1990, he positioned himself as the leader of Yadav (11.7% of the Bihar's) and lower castes.<ref name="fp">{{cite news|title=Lalu Prasad Yadav: The man whose luck finally ran out|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/lalu-prasad-yadav-the-man-whose-luck-finally-ran-out-1152563.html|access-date=5 October 2013|newspaper=FirstPost|date=4 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007082329/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/lalu-prasad-yadav-the-man-whose-luck-finally-ran-out-1152563.html|archive-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> Muslims, who had traditionally served as ] ], shifted their support to Prasad after the ].<ref name="India Today">{{cite book | title=India Today | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gP4vAQAAIAAJ | access-date=8 February 2013 | year=1995 | publisher=Aroon Purie for Living Media India Limited | page=156 | archive-date=13 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013020647/http://books.google.com/books?id=gP4vAQAAIAAJ | url-status=live }}</ref> He became popular among the young voters of Bihar.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-01-26/news/27487141_1_castes-bihar-nitish-kumar | title = Vox Populi: Laloo 'castes' his spell on Bihar | date = 26 January 2005 | access-date = 8 February 2013 | newspaper = The Economic Times | author = Girish Kuber | archive-date = 16 June 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130616051328/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-01-26/news/27487141_1_castes-bihar-nitish-kumar | url-status = dead }}</ref>
====As Railway minister====
Yadav was elected to the 14th ] from ] and ] seats of ]. He was made the railway minister in the UPA Government. Later, he gave up the Madhepura seat.
*He banned ] cups used for serving ] at railway stations and announced that they will be replaced by ''kulhad''s (earthen cups). He said that this will generate more rural employment.<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1094240.cms
| title=Lalu's 'kulhad', a flop in Bihar
| publisher=The Times of India
| date=May 1, 2005
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}</ref> Later, he also said that he had plans to introduce ]<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/07/stories/2004070705580100.htm
| title=Lalu spares passengers; freight untouched
| publisher=The Hindu
| accessdate=2006-05-18
}}</ref> and ]<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1517142.cms
| title=Lalu refuses to be CEO, Railways India
| publisher=The Times of India
| accessdate=2006-05-18
}}</ref> for the railway passengers to generate more rural employment and reduce pollution.


===1990–1997: Lalu Yadav as Chief Minister of Bihar===
*In June ], he announced that he would travel by railway to get a first-hand experience of the problems faced by the Indian public; he once inspected the ] railway station at midnight<ref>{{cite web
In 1990, Janata Dal came to power in Bihar. PM V. P. Singh wanted former chief minister ] to lead the government.<ref name=toi /> and ] backed ]. To break deadlock deputy PM ] nominated Prasad as CM candidate. He was victorious in an internal poll of Janta Dal MLA's and became the chief minister. On 23 September 1990, Prasad arrested ] at ] during the latter's ] to ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/blog/lalu-yadav-on-why-and-how-he-arrested-lk-advani-on-october-23-1990-1784734|title=Why And How I Arrested LK Advani By Lalu Yadav|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207105505/https://www.ndtv.com/blog/lalu-yadav-on-why-and-how-he-arrested-lk-advani-on-october-23-1990-1784734|archive-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> which establish himself as a secular leader among the people of Bihar.<ref>{{cite news|title=1990-L.K. Advani's rath yatra: Chariot of fire|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/1990-L.K.+Advani's+rath+yatra:+Chariot+of+fire/1/76389.html|access-date=5 October 2013|newspaper=India Today|date=24 December 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930042946/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/1990-L.K.+Advani's+rath+yatra:+Chariot+of+fire/1/76389.html|archive-date=30 September 2013}}</ref> The ] lauded his party for its work in the 1990s on the economic front.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20556842%7EpagePK:141137%7EpiPK:217854%7EtheSitePK:295584,00.html | title=World Bank Report: Bihar – Towards a Development Strategy | publisher=World Bank | access-date=23 May 2006 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220214247/http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20556842~pagePK:141137~piPK:217854~theSitePK:295584,00.html | archive-date=20 December 2007}}</ref> In 1993, Prasad adopted a pro-English policy and pushed for the re-introduction of ] as a language in school curriculum, contrary to the ''angrezi hatao'' (banish English) policy of then ] ] ]. Policy of opposition to English was considered an anti-elite policy since both the Yadav leaders represented the same social constituents – the backward castes, dalits and minority communities.<ref>{{cite book|last=Selma K.|first=Sonntag|title=The Local Politics of Global English: Case Studies in Linguistic Globalization|year=2003|publisher=Lexington Books|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-7391-0598-6|pages=66–67|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djYssj8tVTYC&q=lalu+prasad+yadav&pg=PA67}}</ref> With the mass support of people of Bihar, Lalu continued to be Bihar CM.<ref name=toi />
| url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun152004/i5.asp?headline=Laloo%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s~night~out~at~Patna~station
| title=Laloo’s night out at Patna station
| publisher=Deccan Herald
| date=June 15, 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-18
}}</ref>
, although there were no reports of him travelling by trains.


===1997–2000: Formation of RJD and National Politics ===
*On ], 2004 he undertook a surprise check at Rail Bhavan in ] and deducted the salaries of about 500 latecomer employees and sent them back.{{fact}}
]
In 1997, due to allegation related to Fodder Scam, a leadership revolt surfaced in Janta Dal, consequently Lalu broke away from Janta Dal and formed a new political party ] (RJD).<ref name=profile /> In ] for ] Lalu won from ],<ref>{{cite web|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1998 TO THE 12th LOK SABHA |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/statisticalreports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |publisher=Indian Election Commission |access-date=6 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718181833/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> but lost in ] to ].<ref name=teh /> In ] he won and remained in opposition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistical Report, Bihar state election 2000|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/statisticalreports/SE_2000/STAI_REPORT_LA-BR-2000.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=6 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930013206/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2000/STAI_REPORT_LA-BR-2000.pdf|archive-date=30 September 2012}}</ref>
] in Pokharpur during his arrival in Nalanda in 2003]]


===2000–2005:Rabri Devi as Chief Ministers of Bihar===
*On ], ], he carried out a surprise check on a goods train coming from Mumbai at Danapur station. He found that weights of consignments were under-assessed, leading to loss of revenue for Railways. He claimed that railway officials, transporters and consignees were part of a racket.A few top ] leaders, associated with a company called Samrudha Overseas Pvt Ltd, were allegedly involved in the racket.
In 2002, Lalu was elected in ] where he stayed until 2004. In 2000, RJD again formed the government with Rabri Devi as the CM. Except for brief president rule and 7 days term of ], RJD remained in power in ] until 2005.<ref name=rjdrule1 />
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/28laloo.htm |title=] leaderes in freight scam |website=Rediff.com |Date=September 28, 2004 |accessdate=August 9,2006}}
</ref>


===2004–2009: Union Minister of Railway ===
*To check the crimes, he planned to introduce joint patrolling by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP).
]In May 2004, Lalu Yadav contested the ] from ] and Madhepura against ] and ] respectively and won both seats with a huge margin with the great support and faith of the People of Bihar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 2004|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=6 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010203826/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2010}}</ref> In total, RJD won 21 seats and it allied with ] becoming second-largest member of ] after Congress. Lalu Yadav became the ] in the 2004 UPA Government. Later, he gave up the Madhepura seat.<ref>{{cite news|title=Laloo gives up Madhepura seat|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/10/stories/2004061006850104.htm|access-date=7 October 2013|date=10 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405020457/http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/10/stories/2004061006850104.htm|newspaper=]|archive-date=5 April 2005}}</ref>


As railway minister, Lalu Yadav left passenger fares untouched and focused on other sources of revenue for the railways. He banned plastic cups from being used to serve tea at railway stations and replaced those with '']''s (earthen cups), in order to generate more employment in rural areas.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1094240.cms| title=Lalu's 'kulhad', a flop in Bihar| newspaper=The Times of India| date=1 May 2005| access-date=23 May 2006| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430153112/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1094240.cms| archive-date=30 April 2006}}</ref> Later, he also said that he had plans to introduce ]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/07/stories/2004070705580100.htm| title=Lalu spares passengers; freight untouched| access-date=18 May 2006| location=Chennai, India| date=7 July 2004| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411121328/http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/07/stories/2004070705580100.htm| newspaper=]| archive-date=11 April 2005}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalu-refuses-to-be-CEO-Railways-India/articleshow/1517142.cms| title=Lalu refuses to be CEO, Railways India| access-date=18 May 2006| date=5 May 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929024558/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-05-05/india/27804461_1_indian-railways-rail-bhavan-delegates| newspaper=]| url-status=live| archive-date=29 September 2011}}</ref> In June 2004, he announced that he would get on the railway himself to inspect its problems and went on to board the train from Patna Railway station at midnight.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jun152004/i5.asp| title=Laloo's night out at Patna station| newspaper=Deccan Herald| date=15 June 2004| access-date=3 October 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010822/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jun152004/i5.asp| archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>
*On ], ], Lalu presented his first railway budget. Lalu didn't increase fares.He offered free second class travel for central governmental job-seeking travelers.


When he took over, the Indian Railways was a loss-making organisation.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lalu-yadavs-budget-of-railway/1/156215.html | title=The Money Train – Lalu Prasad Yadav brings profits for Indian Railways | magazine=] | date=12 March 2007 | access-date=3 October 2013 | author=Vaish, Nandini | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225903/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lalu-yadavs-budget-of-railway/1/156215.html | archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> In the years under his leadership, it showed a cumulative total profit of {{INR Convert|38000|c}}. Business schools around the world became interested in Lalu Yadav's leadership in managing the turnaround. The turnaround was introduced as a case study by the ].<ref name=bbcprofile>{{cite news|title=Profile: Laloo Prasad Yadav|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24327816|access-date=4 October 2013|date=30 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003235258/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24327816|archive-date=3 October 2013}}</ref> Yadav also received invitations from eight ] schools for lectures, and addressed over a hundred students from ], ] and others in ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061228/main11.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=3 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821120724/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061228/main11.htm |archive-date=21 August 2013}}</ref>
*He announced launch of 55 new trains<ref>{{cite news
|title = Rail Budget to aggravate politics within UPA
|url=http://outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=366472
|publisher = Outlook
|date = ], 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}</ref>, only 23 of which have been shared jointly by ] and ]. ] was proposed to be given 20 additional trains, 10 of the existing trains will be extended and frequences of four will be increased during 2006-07.In the case of ] 15 new trains, 11 extended trains and increase in frequencies of four trains was announced.For Tamil Nadu,10 new trains, seven extension of trains and increase in frequency of two trains.For ] 13 new trains, extension to 11 trains and frequencies of one train would be increased.


In 2006, the ] and ], France, showed interest in turning Lalu Yadav's experiment with the Indian Railway into case studies for aspiring business graduates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/delhi-times/Lalu-goes-to-Harvard/articleshow/1715301.cms |title=Lalu goes to Harvard |newspaper=] |date=2006-07-08 |access-date=2022-02-27 |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110133524/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/delhi-times/Lalu-goes-to-Harvard/articleshow/1715301.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
*His trains including four '''Garib Raths''' connecting U P and Bihar with the South (]), ], ] and ] is being seen as an attempt to reach out to the migrant workers from these areas.He introduced Garib Rath from the labour intensive areas of Bihar (Patna) and eastern part of the India to Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Amritsar for poor sections of the people, who in large numbers travel to these areas in search of livelihood


In 2009, Yadav's successor ] and the opposition parties alleged that the so-called turnaround of the Railways during his tenure was merely a result of presenting ]s differently.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalus-railways-turnaround-tale-was-a-cosmetic-exercise/articleshow/9499268.cms |title='Lalu's railways turnaround tale was a cosmetic exercise' |author=Mahendra Kumar Singh |newspaper=The Times of India |date=6 August 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118121624/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalus-railways-turnaround-tale-was-a-cosmetic-exercise/articleshow/9499268.cms |archive-date=18 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
*Lalu introduced three '''Garib Nawaz''' trains from three destinations of the state - Kishenganj, Yeshwantpur and ] (now in Jharkhand) to ] for pilgrimage at the Mazar of ].
|title = Lalu a juggler, Nitish echoes Mamata
|url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Lalu-a-juggler-Nitish-echoes-Mamata/articleshow/4764835.cms
|newspaper = The Economic Times
|access-date = 11 July 2009
|date = 11 July 2009
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090715185309/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Lalu-a-juggler-Nitish-echoes-Mamata/articleshow/4764835.cms
|archive-date = 15 July 2009
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> A 2011 report by the ] (CAG) endorsed this view. CAG found that the "surplus" shown on the financial statements during Yadav's tenure covered "cash and investible surplus", which were not included in the "net surplus" figures released by the Railways in the earlier years. The "cash surplus" included the money available for paying dividend, contribution to the Depreciation Reserve Fund used for renewal or replacement of existing assets, and other funds for investment. The "investible surplus" included the money allocated for ]. The report concluded that the performance of the Railways actually declined marginally during the last few years of Lalu's tenure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalus-railways-turnaround-tale-was-a-cosmetic-exercise-/articleshow/9499268.cms|title=Railway Turnaround a Cosmetic Exercise|work=The Times Of India|date=6 August 2011|access-date=8 July 2013|archive-date=5 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011819/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-06/india/29858215_1_zonal-railways-traffic-earnings-lalu}}</ref>


] and ] at a party rally in ] during the ]]]
*Lalu also announced two new train for ], home constituency of UPA Chairperson and party chief ].


===2005–2015: Out of power in Bihar and Center===
*He said that he would revoke the contract of ], which runs newspaper stands on most Indian railway stations, because they were enjoying monopoly ever since English (British) left India and would invite open tender. <ref>{{cite news
Bihar Assembly elections were held twice in the year 2005. There was a fractured verdict in February 2005 Assembly Election. Since no government could be formed in Bihar, fresh elections were held in October–November the same year. In November 2005 state elections RJD won 54 seats, less than both Janata Dal United (JDU) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). ] led coalition, consisting of ] and BJP, came to power. In the 2010 elections, the RJD tally was reduced to just 22 seats whereas the ruling alliance claimed a record 206 out of the 243 Assembly seats.<ref name=rjdrule1>{{cite news|title=Bihar Polls 2010: Nitish clean sweeps opposition|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2010/11/24/bihar-assembly-election-2010-results-rjd-jdu.html|access-date=3 October 2013|newspaper=oneindia news|date=24 November 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224338/http://news.oneindia.in/2010/11/24/bihar-assembly-election-2010-results-rjd-jdu.html|archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> In ] RJD won 4 seats and provided outside support to ] government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lalu: I will work for party's revival|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/lalu-i-will-work-for-partys-revival/article290540.ece|access-date=7 October 2013|newspaper=]|date=25 May 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508224736/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/lalu-i-will-work-for-partys-revival/article290540.ece|archive-date=8 May 2014}}</ref> In May 2012, Lalu Prasad Yadav envisaged Hamid Ansari, previous vice-president, as a presidential candidate.<ref>'' Tewary Amarnath''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084328/http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/62017-lalu-pitches-for-hamid-ansari-as-next-prez.html |date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> In May 2013, Lalu Yadav tried to rejuvenate the party and fuel the party workers in his Parivartan Rally.<ref>{{cite news|author=ANI |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-15/india/39281058_1_parivartan-rally-lalu-nitish-kumar |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615233838/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-15/india/39281058_1_parivartan-rally-lalu-nitish-kumar |archive-date=15 June 2013 |title=At Parivartan Rally, Lalu slams Nitish, calls him dictator |date=15 May 2013 |work=] |access-date=3 August 2013}}</ref> After the conviction in Fodder Scam on 3 October 2013, Yadav was disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha. In ], Lalu Yadav's RJD again won 4 seats.
|title = A.H. Wheeler faces the axe of Lalu's reforms
|url=http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_a/a_h_wheeler/20040719_reforms.html
|publisher = domain-b.com
|date = ], 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}</ref>


===2015–current: Grand Alliance ===
*In July 2004, Lalu lobbied the Finance Minister ] to declare a Rs. 3225 ] aid package for Bihar.
In the ], Lalu Yadav's RJD became the largest party with a total of 81 seats. He along with his partner ] of JD(U) had the absolute majority to form a government in Bihar. This was cited as a major comeback for the RJD and for Lalu Yadav on the political stage of Bihar after a gap of 10 years. But that suffocating alliance did not last long as Nitish Kumar dumped and ousted Lalu's party from the power and alliance in July 2017 after the ] and ] lodged several criminal cases against Lalu's son and Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav.<ref name=nitil> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803024422/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lalu-prasad-yadav-nitish-kumar-narendra-modi-nda/1/1012069.html |date=3 August 2017 }}, ], 27 Jul 2017.</ref><ref name=niti2> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224102918/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/survivor-nitish-kumar-chooses-the-winner-dumps-lalu-for-modi/articleshow/59776139.cms |date=24 December 2017 }}, ], 26 Jul 2017.</ref>


== Positions held ==
*On ], ], Lalu announced an inquiry into the ] incident, in which several ] members were allegedly burnt alive by ]s in a compartment of the ] Express.
Lalu has been elected 4 times as ] and 5 times as ] MP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=2439&lastls=15 |title=Member Profile |work=Lok Sabha |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929221803/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=2439&lastls=15 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Laloo-Shatru-elected-to-RS-Ranjan-loses/articleshow/5104381.cms |title=Laloo, Shatru elected to RS; Ranjan loses &#124; Patna News |newspaper=] |date=March 30, 2002 |access-date=2022-02-27 |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720194129/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/laloo-shatru-elected-to-rs-ranjan-loses/articleshow/5104381.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable" width=60%
*On ] he claimed that ],Leader of the Opposition was an accused in a conspiracy to kill ] and described him as an 'international absconder'.
! # !! From !! To !! Position !! Party
|-
| 1. || 1977 || 1979 ||
*] (1st term) in ] from ]


|| ]
*On ] Lalu asked ] to come clean on ‘his involvement' in the alleged conspiracy to assassinate the founder of ], ].He made public some proofs too.<ref>{{cite news
|-
|title = Laloo to Advani: Come clean on Jinnah murder
| 2. || 1980 || 1985 ||
|url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=36122
*] (1st term) from ] in ]
|publisher = Press Trust of India
|| ]
|date = September 14, 2004
|-
| accessdate=2006-08-09
| 3. || 1985 || 1989 ||
}}</ref>
*] (2nd term) from ]
*] in ] (1st term) (resigned in 1989)
|| ]
|-
| 4. || 1989 || 1990 ||
*] (2nd term) in ] from ] (resigned in 1990)
|| ]
|-
| 5. || 1990 || 1995 ||
* MLC (1st term) in ]
*] (1st term) in ]
|| ]
|-
| 6. || 1995 || 1998 ||
*] (3rd term) from ] and ] (1995-1996)
*] (2nd term) in ] (1995-1997)
|| ]
|-
| 7. || 1998 || 1999 ||
*] (3rd term) in ] from ]
|| ]
|-
| 8. || 2000 || 2000 ||
*] (4th term) from ] (resigned in 2000) and ] (resigned in 2002)


|| ]
*On September 28, 2004,Lalu alleged ],the then Union Rural Minister, of having sold off 55,000 tonne of wheat in the name of drought relief distribution in AP. "A CBI probe will be initiated to find the truth" he said..<ref>{{cite news
|-
|title = Laloo seeks CBI probe against NDA
| 9. || 2002 || 2004 ||
|url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=36616
*] (1st term) in ] from ] (resigned in 2004)
|publisher = expressindia.com
|| ]
|date = September 28, 2004
|-
| accessdate=2006-08-09
| 10. || 2004 || 2009 ||
}}</ref>
*] (4th term) in ] from ] and ] (resigned from Madhepura in 2004)
*] in ]
*In August, ], just before the assembly polls in ], Laloo promised model railway stations, gauge conversion works and employment in Railways. Laloos's list of railway stations to be developed as "model stations" included 7 stations from ] and only 2 from the rest of ](<ref name="mumbai_mirror_poll_prasad">(one has to "select prior issue" from top-right of the webpage as August 14, 2005 to access this link) {{cite news
|title = Lalu ka polls prasad!
|publisher = Mumbai Mirror
|url= http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=4&articleid=81420050113392181420050118703
|date = ], 2005
}}
</ref>). The seven stations in Bihar included ], ], ], ], ], ] and another station.


|| ]
*Lalu also "found" 80,000 old C and D grade vacancies in the Railways.<ref name="mumbai_mirror_poll_prasad"/> Apart from this, he cut the general and second class fare by one ], and announced the implementation of internet based ticketing and reservations<ref name="mumbai_mirror_poll_prasad"/>. He also announced plans for open ticketing and a new scheme on upgradation of lower class passengers to a higher class automatically.
|-
| 11. || 2009 || 2013 ||
*] (5th term) in ] from ] (disqualified in October 2013, due to conviction in ])


|| ]
== Financial Turnaround of Indian Railways==
|}


'''Note:'''
Lalu Prasad Yadav is now credited with engineering the financial turnaround of ], which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Under him, the Railways booked an unprecedented surplus of 110 billion rupees (2.47 billion dollars)<ref>{{cite web
* 2004: Re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha (4th term) from Chapra and Madhepura; retained Chapra. Appointed Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Railways in ] govt. Lalu, wife ], son ] and daughter ] booked for railway tender bribery scam, disproportionate illegal property and income tax evasion cases in 2017.
| url=http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2006-daily/25-02-2006/business/b22.htm
* 2009: Re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha (5th term). Contested two seats. Lost from ] but won from ], and disqualified in 2013 subsequent to his conviction in the first fodder scam case. And barred from contesting elections for 6 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lalu-prasad-yadav-stands-disqualified-from-membership-of-lok-sabha-bjp/articleshow/23366808.cms?from=mdr |title=Lalu Prasad Yadav stands disqualified from membership of Lok Sabha: BJP |newspaper=] |date= |access-date=2022-02-27 |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222045804/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lalu-prasad-yadav-stands-disqualified-from-membership-of-lok-sabha-bjp/articleshow/23366808.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref>
| title=Indian Railways announces financial turnaround, new tracks
| publisher=The News International, Pakistan
| accessdate=2006-05-18
}}</ref>


==Populist policies and consolidation of lower castes==
An impressed ] is studying the Indian Railways turnaround story to make it a case study for its students.<ref>
]
{{cite news
According to Seyed Hossein Zarhani, although Laloo Prasad became a hate figure among ]s, he drew huge support from backward castes and ]s. He was criticised for neglecting development, but a study conducted during his reign, among downtrodden ]s revealed that despite the construction of houses for them not being concluded at required pace, they are obliged to choose him as their leader as he returned them their ''ijjat'' (honour)
| title=CEO Lalu set to enter IIM-A classroom
and for the first time they are allowed to vote as per their own wishes. A number of populist policies which directly impacted his "]" supporters were launched during his tenure. Some of these being establishment of ''Charvaha schools'', where children of poor could get skilled; abolishment of cess on ] and making of the negligence of rules related to reservation for "Backward Castes" as cognizable offence. Yadav mobilised 'Backwards' through his identity politics. According to his conception, Forward Castes were elite in the outlook and thus he portrayed himself as, "''Messiah of Backwards''" by ensuring that his way of living remain identical to his supporters who were mostly poor. He even continued to reside in his quarter of one room after getting elected as ], though later he moved to official residence of the ] for administrative convenience.<ref name="Zarhani">{{cite book|chapter=Elite agency and development in Bihar: confrontation and populism in era of Garibon Ka Masiha|title=Governance and Development in India: A Comparative Study on Andhra Pradesh and Bihar after Liberalization|publisher=Routledge|first=Seyed Hossein|last=Zarhani|year=2018|isbn=978-1-351-25518-9|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3tqDwAAQBAJ&q=laloo+yadav+identity+politics&pg=PT200|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=4 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804225241/https://books.google.com/books?id=_3tqDwAAQBAJ&q=laloo+yadav+identity+politics&pg=PT200|url-status=live}}</ref>
| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1513349.cms
| publisher=The Econmic Times
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}</ref>
As part of his drive to modernise the railways Lalu Prasad Yadav has decided to send nearly 100 top officials abroad for training in latest techniques and sharpen their managerial skills in Management Schools of USA and France .


Another significant event during his regime was the recruitment of 'Backward Castes' and communities to government services in large numbers. The government's white paper claimed to have significant number of vacancies in health sector and similar manpower crunch existed across various sectors. The rules of recruitment were changed drastically in order to benefit "Backward Castes", who supported him. The frequent transfer of existing officers, who were at the higher echelon of bureaucracy was also an important feature of Yadav and ]'s regime. These developments led to collapse of administration and entire system. Yadav however continued to rule Bihar due to massive support from "Backward Castes" as well as his emphasis on "honour" which he considered more important than the development. Thus according to Zarhani, for the lower caste he was a charismatic leader who was capable to become the voice of those who were silent for long.<ref name="Zarhani"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/patna/growing-mass-appeal-prevented-lalu-police-reforms-nitish-shot-down-ats-former-bihar-dgp-7946082/|title=Growing mass appeal and hangers-on prevented Lalu from effecting police reforms, Nitish shot down ATS: Former Bihar DGP|website=Indian express|date=31 May 2022 |access-date=27 July 2023|archive-date=27 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727192039/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/patna/growing-mass-appeal-prevented-lalu-police-reforms-nitish-shot-down-ats-former-bihar-dgp-7946082/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Another form of mobilisation of his ] supporters by Laloo Yadav was popularising all those folk heroes of lower castes, who were said to have vanquished the upper caste adversaries. One such example is of a popular Dalit saint who was revered as he not only ran away with an upper caste girl but also suppressed all her kins. Praising him could enrage ] caste in some parts of Bihar. There is a grand celebration every year at a particular place near ] and Yadav participates in this fair with pomp and show. His energetic participation in this show makes it a rallying point for Dalits, who saw it as their victory and the harassment of upper castes.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NYNICgAAQBAJ&q=dalit+love+laloo&pg=PT23|title=Bihar: is in the Eye of the Beholder|first=Vijay|last=Nambisan|publisher=Penguin UK|year=2001|isbn=93-5214-133-4|access-date=2020-07-26|archive-date=4 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804225240/https://books.google.com/books?id=NYNICgAAQBAJ&q=dalit+love+laloo&pg=PT23|url-status=live}}</ref>
==International interest in Lalu==
It has been learnt through various sources that many foreign embassies and universities like the ] and ],France have sought his bio-data to know more about him <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1715301.cms
| title=Lalu goes to Harvard
| publisher=The Times of India/City Supplement
| date=July 8 , 2006
| accessdate=2006-08-10
}}
</ref>. It is reported that The Indian government has been inundated with requests from embassies and high commissions asking for Lalu's bio-data, as well as the possibility of a visit, ever since he became a minister in the central government. Speaking to Asia Times Online, Lalu said, "People all over the world want to know how the son of a cowherd has risen to such heights. Their interest in me is a victory of Indian democracy." One of his officials said more than 100 missions have sought his bio-data and asked questions about him .<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/13lalu.htm
| title=Harvard wants my bio-data: Lalu
| publisher=Rediff.com
| date=September 13, 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}
</ref>
According to Sudhir Kumar, officer on special duty for Lalu Prasad Yadav,who was in France for a conference where he met Professor Steven R Ditmeyer, a former faculty member of Harvard and now on deputation to National Defense University, "The professor is intrigued by the man behind the success story of the railways and will be visiting India soon to learn more about him as well as the turnaround. His subject of the case study would be -- How has a man with no formal education brought about a change of this magnitude? On basis of his view, Harvard Business School will consider a case study on the railways,".On a similar note Karine Lejoly of HEC says, "We are looking at making the Indian Railways a part of our course. While nothing has been finalised as of now, I will be visiting India in October-November to talk to the concerned officials."


According to Kalyani Shankar, Yadav created a feeling amongst the oppressed that they are real rulers of state under him. He continuously lambasted the oppressors on the behalf of the oppressed and led to their emergence as the pivot of political power. The upper caste, who composed just 13.2% of the population, were controlling most of the land while the 'Backwards', who were 51%, own very little land. The advent of Lalu led to a drastic change in the economic profile of the state, followed by the diversification of the occupation of the 'Backwards' and increase in land owned by them.<ref name="Kalyani"/>
==Lalu in popular culture==
Many books have been written in praise of Lalu by local writers including Lalu Chalisa and Lalu Hala. These books are popular among the masses in the ] Heartland. Lalu is regarded as a cult figure among some of them. There are full time entertainers who mimic Lalu as a profession.According to a Zee News report many local barbers and saloons are earning handsome money by offering what they call the `Lalu style hair cut`.Krishna Thakur, a barber of Hajipur was quoted saying,"The style is a craze among the youths and even policemen".


Yadav also instilled a sense of confidence among Muslims by stopping ]'s controversial "]". Muslims of Bihar were feeling a sense of insecurity after the ghastly ]. The ] government failed to control law and order situation thus death toll reached over 1000. The people affected were mostly poor weavers and others belonging to low strata of society and hence they were looking for a leader who could control the deteriorating situation of state under Congress. According to Kalyani, during this period upper castes were totally marginalised and ']' came to control the power firmly.<ref name="Kalyani">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rY8COowubxYC&pg=PA216|title=Gods of Power: Personality Cult & Indian Democracy|first=Kalyani|last=Shankar|publisher=Macmillan|year=2005|pages=216–220|isbn=1-4039-2510-0|access-date=2020-08-08|archive-date=4 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804225240/https://books.google.com/books?id=rY8COowubxYC&pg=PA216|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Lalu as Brand ==
Lalu has been recognised as brand among indian industries..


===Emergence as the leader of plebeians===
<br>In 2005, dolls called ‘Laluji’, manufactured by Speedage Corp., had become a big hit among kids.
During his tenure, Yadav never tried to emulate the erstwhile elite chief ministers. He took part in the public festivals and popularised his famous ''Kurta far ]'' (cloth tearing Holi). On this occasion his invitees and the media persons would reach his house shouting: ''Kaha Chhupal hai Lalu Sala'' (Where is the bloody Lalu hiding ?). Yadav also responded in a similar abusive tone. The vulgar songs were also played on the occasion.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2MowBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98|title=Alternative Voices: (Re)searching Language, Culture, Identity|author=Imtiaz Hasnain|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4438-4998-2|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043258/https://books.google.com/books?id=2MowBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98|url-status=live|page=98}}</ref> Besides this, he never hesitated in calling himself the son of a poor ''Goala'' (herder). During his public celebration of Holi festival, he used to play the '']'' himself and dance to the beat of ''Jogira'' song. Yadav's rallies were called railla, a symbol of masculinity. Those participating in these rallies were supposed to carry a lathi, a robust stick, which was both the symbol of "masculinity" as well as the chief weapon of a "herder", who used it to manage his cows. The drinking of '']'', a natural liquor and sitting the whole night to watch the '']'' (Dance of a ] acting as a woman) made him popular among rural Biharis but all of these obscene activities of a Chief Minister irritated the middle class sensibilities.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zA2rCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT173|title=Government of Peace: Social Governance, Security and the Problematic of Peace|chapter=Bihar 1990–2011|author=Ranabir Samaddar|date=3 March 2016|publisher=Routledge, 2016|isbn=978-1-317-12537-2|access-date=5 October 2020|page=173|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043259/https://books.google.com/books?id=zA2rCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT173|url-status=live}}</ref>
According to Ashwini Kumar:
{{Blockquote|An astute mix of lower caste with minority politics therefore helped Lalu Yadav to establish his hold over the political scenario in Bihar. This marked the beginning of, what came to be known as 'Total politics' in which the identity of caste, class and religion came to be manipulated and exploited by the new state elite to retain and remain in power forever. As opposed to the traditional ] secular politics, the new secular politics of Lalu Yadav was non Brahmanical, vernacular and popular.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ashwani |last=Kumar |title=Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&pg=PA80 |year=2008 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-709-8 |page=80 |access-date=17 February 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043300/https://books.google.com/books?id=num2I4NFGqIC&pg=PA80 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}


==Confrontation with bureaucracy and other policies==
<br>A cosmetic pack branded as ‘Lalu Chale Sasural’ (Lalu goes to in-laws house) had become extremely popular among girls, especially in the areas such as Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Samastipur. Each packet was priced at Rs 23 and contained items of daily use like face powder, cream, earrings, sticker, and a necklace.
{{See also|Bara massacre}}
] and ] (USA) on the topic " Turn Around of ]s," in New Delhi on March 16, 2007.]]
With the coming in power of Yadav, the representation of ] saw a spurt in the legislative assembly of state. The ] were at great disadvantage due to the new caste composition of the state legislature. In his second tenure, when the elections of 1995 took place in the state, the OBC legislators became 49.69 per cent in the assembly and the upper caste legislators fell to 17.28 per cent, a massive decline since 1960s (In ]s, only 61 upper caste legislators were elected, while the number of Backward Caste legislators was 165<ref name="Alam">{{cite journal|first= Alam|last=Mohd Sanjeer|title=Bihar: Can Lalu Prasad Reclaim Lost Ground?|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume= 44|issue=17|year= 2009|pages=11–14|jstor=40279176}}</ref>). The domination of the Backwards in the ] brought it into conflict with the ], which was still dominated by the upper-castes. There witnessed a hike in incidents of corruption, because the upper-caste bureaucrats utilised the 'lack of knowledge' in administration of the new legislators (from the OBC background) to stealthily sabotage and subvert constructive policies of the Yadav's government.<ref name="CUP">{{cite journal |last=Guha|first=S|year= 2021|title=Dilemmas of Democratic Deepening in India: Notes from two North Indian states |journal=Modern Asian Studies|volume= 55|issue=4|pages= 1315–1358 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X20000268|s2cid= 225133744}}</ref>


Since, the administrative class belonged to landed class of upper caste; the ], ], ] and ], they aimed at this obstruction, in order to secure not only their personal interest, but also the interest of the social class, they belonged to. The advent of Yadav to power was considered as end of their dominance. Hence, amidst confrontation between the bureaucracy and the legislature, the upper-caste dominated bureaucracy became determined to obstruct the caste based social justice promoted by the ] government under Yadav. They often resorted to frequent defiance of orders to maintain the status-quo. Hence, the government undermined the bureaucracy, as the government, which is said to have voted to power on the platform of OBC empowerment, was also determined to bring the ], even at the cost of administrative disfunction.<ref name="CUP"/>
<br>Lalu Chocolate is a big hit in rural areas of north Bihar districts like Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani .These toffees were produced by a company called Chetak and were available in two packs priced at Rs 1 and Rs 2. The toffees were packed in sachets which depicted Lalu in two outfits - one wearing his traditional dress, ‘kurta and pyjama’ with silver hair, and the other one as a magician dressed in trendy jacket and jeans.The company was able to sell more than 100,000 sachets of ‘Lalu ka Khazana’ toffees, since its launch, and was witnessing a steady demand.


At the time, the caste composition of judiciary also mirrored the bureaucracy and latter too come into conflict with the government. In the meantime, in the year 1996, a major scandal was witnessed in the state, which involved embezzlement of billions of ]s from the Animal Husbandry Department of state. Initially, the case was to be investigated by Bihar police, which means, government to be in the control of the investigation, but later the judiciary came into play, and the reservation of the case by ] for ], saw Patna High Court assuming charge over the case. The ], as it was called was a new series of conflict between the government on one hand and the CBI and Judiciary at the other hand.<ref name="CUP"/>
<br>In June 2006, it was reported that Prakash Agro Industries (Prakash Agro), an agro-based company in India, was selling cattle fodder under the brand name ‘Lalu Pashu Aahar’ .Satish Kumar Singh (Satish), Manager, Prakash Agro said that during the discussions on branding the fodder, they chose the ‘Lalu’ name as they felt that this name was very popular .Prakash Agro reported that the outcome of this branding strategy had surpassed the company’s expectations and they were facing problems in meeting the huge demand for their fodder. They were sending 200 tonnes of fodder everyday to the market and reported a monthly turnover of Rs.200 million per month.


Between 1990 and 2005, the government under Yadav's Janata Dal undertook several measures to strengthen the control of OBCs, ] and ]s over bureaucracy. Latter were given the powerful position like those of ]. Transfers of the upper echelon of bureaucracy was also frequently resorted to. In the year 1993, the post of Director General of Police as well as Chief Secretary were both given to officers belonging to lower castes and the incumbent officers, who were both Brahmins were removed. Since the strategy of transfer of unwanted bureaucrats has a limit, Yadav's government was adamant in use of ] to fill these posts with the officials from the subaltern background. If unable to appoint the lower castes, the government chose to keep many posts vacant, to prevent the upper castes from occupying them.<ref name="CUP"/>
<br>Not only small companies even Amul ,Mortien and several others use Lalu as icon to sell their products


In order to weaken the upper-caste bureaucracy, the scope for intervention in its functioning by the party officials, belonging to Janata Dal was kept open.Hence, increased interference by party activists in the functioning of bureaucracy and police was witnessed. Meanwhile, the resurgence of the OBCs and ]s also resulted in extension of patronage to many of the ''Bahubalis'' ( a term representing someone with money and muscle power with criminal background) from these social groups. Yadav is said to have patronised; ], operating out of ] and ] ]s; Vinod Yadav, operating out of Bhagalpur district; ], operating out of Gaya district; ], operating out of Siwan district; Makhi Paswan, operating out of ] district; and Mohammed Suleiman, operating out of ] district.<ref name="CUP"/> Yadav's aide ], who was known for his muscle power ended the crime empire of Devendra Dubey, that was spread from ] to ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zA2rCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT198|page=198|first=Samaddar|last=R.|year=2016|title=Government of Peace: Social Governance, Security and the Problematic of Peace|place=United Kingdom|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-317-12537-2|quote=Another backward-caste RJD leader, Brij Bihari Prasad, known for his muscle power, ended the crime empire of the Congress leader Devendra Dube that spread from East Champaran to Muzaffarpur district.|access-date=10 July 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812175914/https://books.google.com/books?id=zA2rCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT198|url-status=live}}</ref> ] like ], who were waging a war against the landlords through various naxal organisations active in the state, were invited to ] and allotted tickets to contest in assembly election. Subsequently, all the criminal cases against him were dropped, during the premiership of Yadav.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Too-poor-to-pay-fine-have-only-gun-car-RJD-MLA/article17317423.ece|title=Too poor to pay fine only have car and guns|website=The Hindu|date=16 February 2017 |access-date=9 October 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231012052412/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Too-poor-to-pay-fine-have-only-gun-car-RJD-MLA/article17317423.ece|archive-date=12 October 2023 |last1=Tewary |first1=Amarnath }}</ref>
== Criticism and Controversy==
Lalu is criticized mainly for three things - his use of Vote Bank Politics, his support to notorious elements and corruption.


A popular opinion outside Bihar with respect to weakening of bureaucracy and "breakdown of governance" was the presence of rampant corruption and leadership's ineptitude in Yadav's regime. But, according to Jeffrey Witsoe, the ] deliberately weakened the state institutions controlled by upper-castes in order to empower the lower castes. The OBCs were in control of government but the media and the bureaucracy along with the judiciary was still in control of upper-castes, it was this upper-caste dominance of the other state institutions that the OBC leadership was vying to end by trying to displace the upper-castes effectively from power.<ref>{{cite book|title=Social Movements and the State in India Deepening Democracy:Rethinking International Development series|editor1=Kenneth Bo Nielsen|editor2=Alf Gunvald Nilsen
===] Politics===
|publisher=]|year=2016|
Lalu Yadav has been the master of mass mobilisation which means polarisation of castes in context of ] sometimes referred to as ].<ref>
isbn=978-1-137-59133-3|quote=The "breakdown of governance" during RJD rule was a reaction to the long history of caste dominance in village contexts and the ways in which upper caste influence within state institutions reinforced this dominance. Contrary to popular opinion outside Bihar, the chaos and partial collapse of governance that occurred during the period of RJD rule did not result primarily from the leadership's ineptitude or corruption. Rather, the RJD intentionally weakened state institutions controlled by upper castes as part of its political project to empower lower castes; the governmental break down that occurred in Lalu's Bihar was by design. While OBCs had displaced upper castes within the realm of political representation, this was not the case within the bureaucracy, the judiciary, the media and the private sector. The enactment of redistributive policies requires state institutions capable of implementing these policies. Since almost all of these institutions in Bihar were effectively controlled by the same upper castes that the new lower caste leadership was attempting to displace from power, this not only made relying on these institutions pre carious, but weakening upper caste influence within public life in Bihar often meant weakening upper caste-dominated public institutions. }}</ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2221/stories/20051021004403500.htm
| title=Bihar on the edge
| publisher=Frontline
| date=October 20045
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref> His Major vote banks are considered to be ]s and ]s better known as MY factor of Indian Politics .Lalu is considered by many as the saviour of the lower castes and the ]s in Bihar.<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/17/stories/2004091705310300.htm
| title=Lavish praise for Lalu
| publisher=The Hindu
| date=September 16, 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-23
}}
</ref> His admirers hail him as a secular leader and a promoter of ]. He once said - ''"Swarg nahin diya, lekin swar to diya."'' (I did not give them paradise, but I did give them voice). Laloo had once coined the term Bhurabal to collectively refer to ], ], ] and ].


In the meantime, accusations were laid against Yadav's government for fomenting ] based antagonism between various social groups. Various commentators have stressed that under Yadav's Janata Dal rule, the agricultural labourers and ]s became vocal for respect from the dominant class and the fair ]s. Retaliation on the part of lower castes were also seen, when the dominant caste ]s tried to quell their revolt on these grounds. In one such case, in December 1991, a dominant caste militia called "Savarna Liberation Front" ]d and murdered ten ] women, in retaliation, the left wing militants all belonging either Dalit or Backward Castes killed thirty five people from the dominant caste.<ref name="Suryakant">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iqcKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT61|title=Civility in Crisis: Democracy, Equality and the Majoritarian Challenge in India|author1=Suryakant Waghmore|author2=Hugo Gorringe|publisher=]|year=2020|isbn=978-1-000-33373-2|pages=61, 63|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726144428/https://books.google.com/books?id=iqcKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT61|url-status=live}}</ref> ] has chronicled the account of a dominant caste landowner who survived the massacre. The interlocutor of Dalrymple, who declared the incident to be a handiwork of Bihar government under Yadav said:
===Notorious elements in his Fold===
{{blockquote|The government will not protect us. It is on their side. This is the ], the epoch of disintegration. The lower castes are rising up. Everything is falling apart.<ref name="Suryakant"/> }}
Some ] belonging to Lalu's party (RJD) have criminal charges against them.<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=VOTE_2004&file_name=vote994.txt&counter_img=994
| title=Half of Laloo's G-8 at Centre are tainted
| publisher=The Pioneer
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref> The most notorious is the ] MP ]. Many of Lalu's own party members including ] MP Sadhu Yadav (brother of Lalu's brother-in-law Subhash Yadav) had asked him to sever ties with Shahbuddin.


Another account from the ''Sargana ]'' area testifies the change in established socio-political order brought by the government under Yadav. A large ] farmer from the Panchayat constituency, who had been a predecessor of the incumbent ]ya of the village said:
===Corruption===
{{blockquote|The ] control the Government. In return, the Government pampers the Backwards (Sar pe chadha kar rakha hai). Not only that, they talk about empowering the ]. They have both ruined the State. To top it all, they say they will protect the Pakistanis (an epithet to describe ]s)....<ref name="Suryakant"/>}}
Lalu has been charged with corruption cases, the most famous being the "]". In the Fodder Scam, the funds meant for cattle fodder were diverted from the animal husbandry department. Lalu was one of the main accused in multi-million rupee scam.<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=294484
| title=Lalu accused in six fodder scam cases
| publisher=Outlook
| date=April 25, 2005
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref> After corruption charges compelled Lalu to step down as ] of Bihar in ], he made his wife ] the chief minister.<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7278_899795,001600770005.htm
| title=Hall of Shame
| publisher=Hindustan Times
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref> From 1997 to 2001, Lalu was sent to jail five times.<ref name="ref_ride_to_Ranchi">
{{cite web
| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1825/18250430.htm
| title=The ride to Ranchi
| publisher=Frontline
| date=December 2001
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref> Lalu was first<ref name="ref_ride_to_Ranchi"/> sent to "Judicial remand" (Bihar Military Police guest house, ]) on ], ] for 134 days. On ], ], he was again sent to the same guest house for 73 days. When the ] took exception to his guest house stay, he was shifted to the Beur jail in Patna. He was again remanded for 11 days on ], ], in a disproportionate assets case. He surrendered along with his wife<ref name="ref_ride_to_Ranchi"/>, Rabri Devi, and was sent to the Beur Jail. Once Again for fodder scam, Lalu was remanded for a day in Beur jail on ], ]. On ], ], he was again remanded, in a case related to the Fodder scam. Lalu accused NDA of creating a conspiracy against him. On ], ] the ] served a notice to Lalu and Rabri Devi on fodder scam. This was in response to a petition, which alleged that they have been interfering with the investigation.<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/oct/01bihar2.htm
| title=Fodder scam: SC notices to Lalu, Rabri
| publisher=Rediff.com
| date=October 01, 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref>


As per one opinion, Yadav extended tacit support to the ] (MCC), and in the period of caste wars, he, as a Chief Minister frequently visited the places, where the victims were from Backward Castes. It is opined that many people from these castes voted him, only because he represented their aspiration of speaking back and becoming virile. The poor of the state couldn't gain much in terms of jobs and services of state, but they were no longer left to be treated with disdain.<ref>{{cite book|first=Corbridge|last= S.|editor1=Williams G.|editor2= Srivastava M.|editor3=Véron R. |year=2005|chapter=Protesting the state|title=Seeing the State Governance and Governmentality in India Contemporary South Asia|pages=219–249|publisher= ]| doi=10.1017/CBO9780511492211.009|isbn= 978-0-521-54255-5|quote= When Laloo Yadav declared that he was the state, he was reminding his supporters –and his enemies – of what Gooptu calls 'the courtly culture of shudra, especially yadav, kings (Gooptu 2001: 217), and their associated displays of strength. His tacit support for the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) in central Bihar (see next section), and his hurried visits to the sites of upper-caste massacres of the Backward Classes, help to consolidate an image of a political leader who refuses to bow to Kshatriyas or Brahmans.}}</ref> Nandini Gooptu has mentioned some studies from the rural Bihar, belonging to the time period following the coming into power of Yadav, where the ]s like ]s became vocal for their rights including wages, for the work they do under 'employment guarantee schemes' of government. In one such study, a Musahar woman was recorded abusing the government officials belonging to Rajput caste for cheating on wages due to them. Similarly, in another case, a ] ] was recorded taunting son of a Kayastha landlord. Many changes were observed at the lowest level of governance too; in one such case, a Rajput landlord family was replaced by a ] caste man for the post of ]ya in a village. These changes in the rural Bihar was found to be remarkable, considering the brutally enforced inequalities persisting therein for years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sOgrDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT35|title=Persistence of Poverty in India|editor1=Nandini Gooptu|editor2=Jonathan Parry|publisher=]|year=2017|isbn=978-1-351-37806-2|access-date=1 August 2022|quote=caste. Musahar women heap abuse on a Rajput government official who had short-changed them on wages due for work under the Employment Guarantee Scheme; Scheduled Tribe Santhal tenants taunt the son of their Kayasth landlord over the latter's share of the crop. Roy's analysis carefully correlates the opening up of this space with developments in the wider political arena: with Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Backward Raj' and with the subsequent emergence of a new coalition which championed the cause of a newly created category of 'Mahadalits' (of 'super-oppressed' castes) that included Musahars. At the village level it went with an end to the 'raj' of the old Rajput landlord family, replaced in the last Gram Panchayat elections by a lower-caste Kevat sarpanch who was returned with Musahar support.|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043300/https://books.google.com/books?id=sOgrDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT35|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Lalu married ] (who also held the post of ]'s ]) in ] and has two sons and seven daughters. According to him, his large family is a protest against the forced ] during ]<ref name="asia_times_2004">
{{cite web
| url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FI29Df02.html
| title=India's man for all seasons
| author=Siddharth Srivastava
| publisher=Asia Times
| date=September 29, 2004
| accessdate=2006-05-29
}}
</ref>
. His eldest daughter is Misa Bharati, who is named after victory over draconian law that provided the police a free rein in the late 1970s.<ref name="asia_times_2004"/> Subhash Yadav is Lalu's ].


In the early years of his rise in political circle, Yadav was also successful in creating defection in the left-wing political parties of the state, which had long history of association with ]. In the areas around ] and ], the weakening of the ] is attributed to the significant rise of ] (RJD) led by Yadav. The RJD successfully attracted the ] and ] leadership of the party, thus strengthening itself at the cost of ]. The leaders of CPI (ML) liberation, who defected to RJD included, ], Umesh Singh, K.D Yadav and ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ew2rCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA182|page=182|title=Government of Peace: Social Governance, Security and the Problematic of Peace|author=]|date=3 March 2016|publisher=], 2016|isbn=978-1-317-12538-9|access-date=1 July 2022|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629102812/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ew2rCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA182|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|quote=Four MLAs of the CPI(ML)-Liberation who defected from the party were Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, Umesh Singh, K.D. Yadav and Suryadev Singh..|author=Srikant|title= Raj Aur Samaj|publisher= Vani Prakashan|place= New Delhi|year= 2011|page= 71}}</ref>
==Bollywood Relation==
Lalu has a big following in ]. The list of his supporters includes ], ], ], ] to name a few. According to ] if Lalu would not have been a politician he would have become an actor.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.bihartimes.com/articles/amarnath/fanclub.html| title=Laloo's Filmi Fans
| author=Amarnath Tiwary
| publisher=Bihar Times (coutsey:Outlook)
| accessdate=2006-08-10}}
</ref>. Lalu did a cameo in a ] movie titled ''Padamshree Laloo Prasad Yadav'' in ]. The movie starred ] and ] among others. ], ] and ] are frontline mimics of Laloo Yadav in Bollywood.Others are ] and ].


Yadav's rule also led to breaking away of patron-client relationship in elections between the upper castes and the Dalits. The labourers of the upper caste landlords were primarily people from Dalit background, who were forced to vote in the elections as per the wishes of their masters, the upper castes. But, in this period, the agricultural labourers were given free hand in exercising their power to select their representatives. This transformation of the existing system brought political freedom for a large number of Dalits.<ref name="Alam"/>
== Relationship with Media ==
{{NPOV}}
Lalu has maintained uninterrupted good relationship with media people. However, many of them have been critical of him (see:]) ever since his first stint as CM{{fact}}. Lalu had banned many reporters within first year of his tenure for allegedly spreading "false information" about him. Some of these reporters hailed from reputed Publishing Houses of India{{fact}}. One such weekly called ''Dharmayug'' has closed its operations indefinitely. Some of the claims they made were Lalu has studied upto High School only{{fact}}. The criticisms have tempered since lalu's recent successes . He was once called the Most Telegenic Personality by TV anchor Rajat Sharma of India TV fame.


Earlier, the primary schools, which served as polling station during the elections used to be present in the upper caste villages. Hence, the Dalits needed to visit the upper caste villages to vote during elections. This was a problematic arrangement as the upper caste used to coerce them to vote their preferred candidate. However, journalist Amberish K Diwanji, who visited many villages in Bihar during 2005 Assembly elections, found that these schools were shifted to lower caste villages, by Lalu Prasad Yadav when he assumed the charge of state in earlier elections. This prevented the upper castes from coercing the Dalits during elections, and latter can exercise their franchise freely. Diwanji also noted that there existed robust social bonding between ]s and ]s in some regions of ]. As per his report, in this region, the Yadavs had taken the place of upper caste in deciding, to whom the Musahars will vote. But, unlike upper castes, who didn't mingle with the Musahars, the Yadavs, specially the poor ones, considered them as equal. Due to similar economic condition, the poor Yadavs in the region, mingled with the Musahars, their children play with each other and they behaved as a single social unit. Reportedly, this bonding often transforms into votes and Musahars prefers Lalu Prasad Yadav than any other political leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/election/2005/feb/09spec5.htm|title=Lalu's a rascal, but will vote for him'|website=]|access-date=15 May 2023|archive-date=13 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113061620/https://www.rediff.com/election/2005/feb/09spec5.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Positions held===
* ]: Elected to 6th Lok Sabha at the age of 29.
* ]-] Member, Legislative Assembly (two terms) of Bihar.
* ]: Becomes the leader of Opposition, Bihar Legislative Assembly, Chairman, Pustakalaya Committee, Convenor, Committee on Public Undertakings, Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
* ]-] Member, Bihar Legislative Council
* ]-] Chief Minister, Bihar
* ]-] Member, Bihar Legislative Assembly
* ]: Lalu's name springs up in a major scam
* ]: parts with the ] and forms ].
* ] Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
* ]-] Member, General Purposes Committee, Committee on Home Affairs and its Sub Committee on Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
* ] Re-elected to the 13th Lok Sabha (4th term).Appointed as Cabinet Minister looking after the Ministry of Railways. In ], he was elected to the ] with his party emerging as a key ally of the Congress.


In some of the regions of the rural area of South Bihar, after the establishment of rule of Janata Dal under Lalu Prasad Yadav, the realignment in the policy of militant organisations like ] was observed. The MCC was dominated by the members of ] caste in the leadership position and the Schedule Castes served as the foot soldiers. Before advent of Lalu Prasad Yadav on the scene in 1980s, MCC was waging a "]", however, after Yadav assumed the premiership of the state the Yadav caste and Schedule Castes of the MCC shifted their loyalty to him. Earlier, the MCC had targeted ]s in the ], but according to author Shashi Bhushan Singh, Yadav wanted a political alliance with the Rajputs and he directed the MCC members, specially his castemen to stop targeting the Rajputs. The Rajputs also accepted the dominance of Naxalite groups over the time in some regions of south Bihar and the Bhumihars remained the major challenger to both the Naxalites as well as the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Shashi Bhushan|last= Singh|title= Limits to Power: Naxalism and Caste Relations in a South Bihar Village|journal=Economic and Political Weekly| volume= 40|issue=29|year= 2005|pages= 3167–75|jstor=4416908}}</ref>
==Footnotes and references==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>


After perpetrating a number of massacre of ]s, ], the caste based ] of Bhumihar caste perpetrated Miyanpur massacre in 2000, in ]. In this massacre, the ] caste was victim; over 30 people were killed by Sena in this incident. However, it is reported that this incident set tone for decline of Sena. As the party of Lalu Prasad Yadav, which was in government took stringent administrative policies on one hand to counter Sena, on the other hand various ] group also resolved their internal differences and started an extermination campaign of the men of Sena in small operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/the-badlands-of-bihar-where-caste-hatred-is-overriding-emotion-magazine-252758|title=The Badlands Of Bihar Where Caste Hatred Is Overriding Emotion|website=Outlook|date=14 January 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023|quote=However, the Miyapur massacre cost the Sena dearly, perhaps also because the victims were Yadavs, the caste to which Laloo Prasad belonged. Laloo's party, after dominating Bihar politics for most part of the 1990s, had got a fresh mandate in 2000 for another five years. While the administration started tightening the noose around the Sena, the Naxal outfits had mostly resolved their internal conflicts and focused on eliminating Sena militia men in small-scale operations.|archive-date=12 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512062009/https://www.outlookindia.com/national/the-badlands-of-bihar-where-caste-hatred-is-overriding-emotion-magazine-252758|url-status=live}}</ref>
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* ] as of March ].
* on ] from September ]
*
*] article, 22nd Nov, 2005]


===Combination of political and non-political conflicts===
{{start box}}
]
{{succession box |
The society of Bihar was divided into ], ] and Forward Castes (upper caste); the ] had dominated the democratic institutions of the state in the rule of ] and only a section of OBCs were politically conscious to think of replacing them from political power, this section, which included only three caste (], ] and ]) also owned land in other parts of Bihar, but was poor in the areas dominated of the forward castes. They took land on tenancy from the forward castes, as they were marginal farmers in these areas. A fair number of the OBCs were also employed in the state institutions and were among educated servicemen in the urban areas. They remained victims of the high handedness of the upper-caste colleagues and the rivalry between them was evolving over time.<ref name="SB">{{cite journal |last=Singh |first=SB |title=Solidarity and Schism: A Study on Bihar's Backward Classes' Movement |journal=Review of Development and Change |year=2022|volume=27|issue=1|pages=83–101| doi=10.1177/09722661221099639 |doi-access=free |s2cid= 249993203}}</ref>
before=]|
title=]|
years=1990&mdash;1997|
after=]
}}
{{end box}}


In rural areas, the OBCs were also confronting the MBC or Extremely Backward Class (also called Most Backward Castes, the category which includes more than hundred Backward Castes, other than trio of Koeri, Kurmi and Yadav) and the Scheduled Castes, but the upper-castes treated all sections of Backward Castes in the same manner, causing much resentment among the elite section of the Backwards. In the rural areas, the upper-castes countered the Most Backward Classes and ], when they wanted to eschew the village based livelihood options. They reacted violently, when the MBC or the SCs tried to detach from any social institutions, that were symbol of low caste status. Since for different reasons, the OBCs, MBCs and the SCs were all pitted against the common rivals, the upper-castes, and the bitterness between the OBCs and the forward castes had strengthened after the ] protest launched by the upper-castes, unification of these social groups took place against the forward castes.<ref name="SB"/>
]

]
The rise of Lalu Prasad Yadav provided an opportunity to unite all these social groups and the ] groups, which had many OBCs in the leadership positions, also supported the political party led by Yadav. ], one of the most significant Naxalite group also sided with the interest of OBCs, and the ] started providing armed backing to the Most Backward Classes and the Schedule Castes to exercise their franchise in order to led the candidates of Yadav's party towards victory. Hence, for a while, the boundary between political and Naxalite movement got blurred.<ref name="SB"/>
]

]
According to Professor Shashi Bhushan Singh, Department of Sociology, ], since the numerical strength of upper-caste (approximately 20% of state's population) was not enough to have large number of ] in the ] in order to control the Backward Castes, they resorted to undemocratic practices in order to retain the power in their hand, leading to rise of militancy among a section of Backwards.
{{blockquote|The forward castes were required to send large numbers of MLAs into the state legislature, but devoid of numerical strength and encountering aggressive backward classes, the forward castes started looting ] with the help of the state officials and police who were mainly from among the forward castes. Subsequently the state became a biased entity. Thus, while most of the backward classes still reposed their faith in democratic struggle, a section of OBCs were attracted towards non-democratic ideas and organisations to confront the forward castes.<ref name="SB"/>}}

According to Singh, when Lalu Prasad Yadav asked for support from the members of Backward Castes, he was actually asking it in order to change the entire social order, in which upper caste were at advantage. The reservation policy introduced by the implementation of ] recommendations though didn't benefitted the Scheduled Castes, yet they supported Yadav against the forward castes.<ref name="SB"/>

According to a ], who witnessed the encounter of Yadav with a person from the ] caste in North India, during his election campaign for 2000 Bihar Assembly elections, Yadav allegedly argued with latter, when he asked him to provide road infrastructure in the region. As per narrative, Yadav believed that the investment by state in physical infrastructure were somehow meant for benefitting the upper castes, who were having significant presence at the higher level of bureaucracy and in professional services. Hence, he blatantly created disruption in the general process of development, until the ] take over the Forward Castes in these services. A majority of the ]s during his tenure were from the Upper Backward Castes, and he also tried to ensure that the administrative posts at the middle level, for the rank of ]s (SDM) and ] (BDO) were also filled by these caste group only. For the professional services like ]s and ]s too, same formula was implemented.<ref name="Sinha Arun">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rT2xWp_iTCYC|page= |last=Sinha|first=Arun|year=2011|title=Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar|place=India|publisher=Viking|isbn= 978-0-670-08459-3|quote=Although he never openly said this, Lalu was reputed to hold the view that more government expenditure meant more illicit income for the upper castes who dominated the bureaucracy. 17 Stagnation served his objective of holding down the upper castes until the upper backward castes took over power fully. He blatantly patronized officers from the upper backward castes; they constituted a major segment of district magistrates who, together with SDOS (subdivisional officers) and BDOs (block development officers), made the government's public face. Wherever possible, SDOS and BDOS were picked up from the upper backward castes. Nitish was acceptable to the upper castes too, because even though he had the same political roots and ideological grounding as Lalu, he was far from being rabid and hardcore anti-upper caste. While he favoured affirmative action in the form of job quotas and other privileges to the backwards he did not derive his strength from quota politics of the Lalu variety. He had advocated exclusion of the well-off sections of the OBCs from the benefit of reservations and backed a job quota for the economically poor among upper castes.}}</ref>

According to author Arun Sinha, though Yadav and his colleague and successor ] belonged to same political roots, in the matter of quota politics and the politics of social justice for the deprived section of society, Kumar was accepted to upper castes. One reason behind this was step taken by Kumar for exclusion of well off section of the ] from the benefits of ] in government jobs and other state sponsored program for social upliftment. In contrast to Kumar, Yadav has been described by Sinha, and was perceived as a staunch anti-upper caste leader.<ref name="Sinha Arun"/>

The tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabari Devi coincided with ] becoming more violent than earlier. It was during Rabari Devi's tenure that Senari carnage against the ]s took place. In this incident, over hundred armed activists of MCC slaughtered 34 Bhumihars in the village called senari by brutally slitting their throats. As per reports, Rabari Devi refused to visit Senari, probably because the village inhabitants and victims, being member of Bhumihar caste had always opposed her government. It was reported that after being implicated in corruption scandal, Yadav raised his wife to the post of Chief Minister; latter was reportedly illiterate, but this was not offensive to the poor of Bihar. It is observed that for their plight, in the struggle against ] dominated naxal groups like MCC, Bhumihars prefer to blame Yadav, who is described as a champion of lower castes.<ref name=Gaurdian>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/mar/29/1|title=War of vengeance leaves ghost villages in its wake|website=The Guardian|date=29 March 1999 |access-date=8 September 2023|archive-date=2 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402121941/https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/mar/29/1|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political symbolism==
].]]
Yadav's politics is described as being against the radical ] promoted by political parties like ]. He employed ] to a large extent in order to confront the politics based on militant religious ideology. In April 2003, he is reported to have organised a great rally at ], Patna, which was aimed at radicalising his lower caste supporters and mobilising them against the politics of Bhartiya Janata Party and ] (VHP). In its rally, VHP was distributing '']s'' to the participants, which was a symbol of militant ] identity. Yadav asked his rural supporters to join him in Gandhi Maidan with a ''Lathi'' (a robust stick) against the ''Trishuls'' of VHP. He said that, this implement (''Lathi'') of the rural poor, which was considered as the weapon of weak, will destroy the ''Trishul'' of hatred (an implicit attack on BJP's and VHP's politics of religion).<ref name="Witsoe">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQcGAQAAQBAJ&q=democracy+against+development|title=Democracy against Development Lower Caste Politics and Political Modernity in Postcolonial India|author=Jeffrey Witsoe|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0-226-06350-8|pages=1–3|access-date=8 April 2023|archive-date=8 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408115057/https://books.google.com/books?id=sQcGAQAAQBAJ&q=democracy+against+development|url-status=live}}</ref>

As per an eyewitness report, on the day of rally, the rural lower caste supporters of Yadav rushed towards Patna; many of them were brought in hurry by the local leaders of the ] to showcase their support to Yadav. The theme of the rally was, ''Bhajpa Bhagao Desh Bachao'' (get rid of Bhartiya Janata Party and save the country). The rallygoers flooded the city armed with ''Lathis'', and in their way to Patna, many of them occupied the trains rushing towards city forcefully. Many windows of the trains were thrashed and the hostels located in Patna were occupied for the rallygoers. The crowd was so massive that the traffic in the city was destabilized for two days. The supporters were told to apply ] to their ''Lathis'' and recite the slogan: ''Lathi pilavan, Patna laavan, Bhajpa bhagavan, Desh bachavan'' (we will apply oil to our Lathis, bring it to Patna, remove the Bhartiya Janata Party and save the country). The large gathering of followers of Yadav in capital city of state of Bihar sybmolised the capture of the real centre of power by latter, as the city was reported to have flooded with ''Lathi'' welding supporters of Rashtriya Janata Dal, who were mostly the lower caste people coming from rural background.<ref name="Witsoe"/>

===1996 Gareeb Rally===
Yadav's rally were contact point between him and his rural supporters. In 1996, a massive "rally of the poor" (Gareeb Rally) was organised by Janata Dal. Author ], who was an eyewitness of this rally organised at ] has mentioned that the poor people who assembled at Patna, were provided free commutation facility to become a part of this rally. There were numerous programmes organised by the office bearers of the ] for the rallyites. Bhatia has mentioned about the Trains, that were running on ]-] route, and carrying the rallyites to Patna. As per her description the Trains and Buses were carrying more pessengers than their capacity. Many of the people congregated at Patna either to lodge their grievances to the Chief Minister or in the hope of getting some monetary help. Bhatia describes an event being sponsored by Janata Dal legislator ] for the entertainment of rallyites, symbolising the acquaintance of the Chief Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav with the taste of his rural supporters.<ref name=Bhatia>{{cite journal|first=Bela|last=Bhatia|title=Laloo's Garib Rally: Dialogues with the People|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume= 31|issue= 28|year= 1996|pages=1827–31| jstor=4404380}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Later at around 10 that night as I made my way from one part of the city to another, I was witness near the station to an incongruous sight, "a randi ka nach' (dance by a ]), one of the many similar programmes organised in the city ostensibly for the 'manoranjan' (recreation) of the rallyites. The shamiana was packed with villagers from far and near, the stage was set with green banners and under fluorescent lamps danced a young woman. A modern dancer with step-cut hair, a pink flare skirt swirling around her, as she danced with a mixture of western and traditional dance steps, to the tune of an alluring ] love song.<ref name=Bhatia/>}}

===Elevation of grassroot workers to important position===
In contrast to elections being based on money power, and the phenomenon of most of the candidates getting elected to houses of legislature in Bihar belonging to high income groups, RJD under Lalu Prasad Yadav has raised grassroot political workers from poor background to important positions in the politics of state. This is done occasionally to showcase the pro-poor stand of Yadav. In 2022, Yadav led election of a Dalit woman, Munni Rajak from ] (washerman) to the seventy-five membered ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/politics/munni-rajak-how-bihar-washerwoman-became-lalu-pick-for-vidhan-parishad/995288/|title=Munni Rajak — How Bihar washerwoman became Lalu pick for Vidhan Parishad|website=The Print|date=14 June 2022 |access-date=3 June 2023|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603190922/https://theprint.in/politics/munni-rajak-how-bihar-washerwoman-became-lalu-pick-for-vidhan-parishad/995288/|url-status=live}}</ref> Another example is of ], the Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA from ], ]. Sada has even claimed that, he and his family worship Lalu Prasad Yadav besides Sabari, the deity of Musahars. Sada, who was associated with RJD for thirty years was reported to be the poorest MLA of Bihar in 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. He claimed that even money for running in election was provided to him by family of Lalu Prasad Yadav and he has just ] 70,000 in his bank account.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/news/ramvriksha-was-always-living-in-indira-awas-in-khagaria-total-assets-only-70-thousand-130489754.html|title=सरकारी आवास मिला तो....रो पड़े विधायक....बोले- ये जनता का घर:खगड़िया में इंदिरा आवास में रह रहे थे रामवृक्ष सदा; कुल संपत्ति महज 70 हजार|website=Bhaskar.com|access-date=5 June 2023|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319200441/https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/news/ramvriksha-was-always-living-in-indira-awas-in-khagaria-total-assets-only-70-thousand-130489754.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/a-house-for-mr-sada-bihars-poorest-mla-left-emotional-by-new-govt-home-8236489/|title=A house for Mr Sada: Bihar's poorest MLA left emotional by new govt home|website=Indian express|date=29 October 2022 |access-date=5 June 2023|archive-date=5 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605073600/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/a-house-for-mr-sada-bihars-poorest-mla-left-emotional-by-new-govt-home-8236489/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Corruption charges and conviction==
===Corruption cases===
Lalu Prasad Yadav has been convicted and jailed in two scams. As of January 2018, he, his wife ], his sons ] and ], and his eldest daughter ] were all facing charges in several other corruption cases.<ref name=ChorFamily1> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201352/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/railways-tender-case-ed-attaches-land-owned-by-lalus-family-in-patna/articleshow/61980877.cms |date=16 December 2017 }}, ], 8 Dec 2017.</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208234714/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/701186.stm |date=8 February 2016 }}, BBC News, 5 April 2000</ref>

==== 1996 Fodder Scam – 1st case ====
{{main|Fodder scam}}
Yadav was an accused party and later convicted in the first Fodder Scam case of 1996. The case involved the siphoning off of about ]4.50 billion (]111.85 million) from the animal husbandry department.<ref name=lal2>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050518/main1.htm |title=More charges framed against Lalu Yadav |newspaper=The Tribune |access-date=8 May 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507174653/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050518/main1.htm |archive-date=7 May 2006}}</ref>

Several allegations of embezzlement from the animal husbandry department were tabled between 1990 and 1995. In January 1996, a raid conducted on Chaibasa treasury indicated the siphoning off of funds by non-existent companies. Yadav ordered an inquiry to probe the irregularities. However, after a ], the ] in March 1996 ordered the case to be handed over to the CBI.<ref name="indiatoday2001">{{Citation |title=NDA Ministers Want Rabri Out |newspaper=India Today Magazine |date=21 May 2001 |access-date=7 October 2013 |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20010521/state2.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034543/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20010521/state2.shtml |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> In June 1997, the CBI filed the charge sheet in the case and made Yadav an accused. The charge forced Yadav to resign from the office of Chief Minister, at which time he appointed his wife, Rabri Devi, to the office.<ref name=profile>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3514292.stm|title=Profile: Lalu Prasad Yadav|work=BBC News|access-date=8 May 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222090325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3514292.stm|archive-date=22 February 2007}}</ref>

In 2001, the ] transferred the scam cases to newly formed court in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The trial began in 2002. In August 2013, Yadav tried to get the trial court judge transferred, but his plea was rejected by Supreme Court of India. Yadav has been an accused in many of the 53-odd cases filed. He has been remanded to custody on multiple occasions because of the number of cases. Over 64 people were convicted in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=294484|title=Lalu accused in six fodder scam cases|publisher=Outlook|date=25 April 2005|access-date=29 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220155644/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=294484|archive-date=20 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1825/18250430.htm|title=The ride to Ranchi|publisher=Frontline|date=December 2001|access-date=29 May 2006|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20011229234112/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1825/18250430.htm|archive-date=29 December 2001}}</ref> Yadav was first sent to "Judicial remand" (Bihar Military Police guest house, ]) on 30 July 1997, for 134 days.<ref name="ref_ride_to_Ranchi">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl1825/18250430.htm|title=The ride to Ranchi|magazine=]|date=December 2001|access-date=29 May 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004231814/http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl1825%2F18250430.htm|archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154725/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/nov/26laloo.htm |date=24 September 2015 }} Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 August 2013.</ref> On 28 October 1998, he was again sent to the same guest house for 73 days. When the Supreme Court took exception to his guest house stay, he had also moved to the Beur jail in Patna. On 26 November 2001, Yadav was again remanded, in a case related to the fodder scam.<ref>Ahmed Soroor {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125615/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/nov/26laloo1.htm |date=4 March 2016 }}, 26 November 2001</ref> Yadav accused the NDA of creating a conspiracy against him. On 1 October 2004, the Supreme Court served a notice to Yadav and his wife in response to a petition which alleged that they have been interfering with the investigation.

Yadav, along with 44 other accused, was convicted on 30 September 2013 after being found guilty in fraudulent withdrawal of ]37 crores (]370 million) from Chaibasa treasury.<ref name=guilty1>{{cite news|title=Lalu, 44 others convicted in fodder scam case|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lalu-44-others-convicted-in-fodder-scam-case/article5184894.ece|access-date=30 September 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930072415/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lalu-44-others-convicted-in-fodder-scam-case/article5184894.ece|archive-date=30 September 2013}}</ref> Several other politicians, IAS officers were also convicted in the case.<ref name=guilty1 /> Immediately after the verdict was pronounced, Yadav was arrested and taken to Birsa Munda Central Jail, located at Ranchi.<ref name=guilty1 /> Yadav was disqualified as MP for six years.<ref name="looses#">{{cite news|title=Lalu Prasad convicted in fodder scam case, faces disqualification as MP|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalu-Prasad-convicted-in-fodder-scam-case-faces-disqualification-as-MP/articleshow/23295574.cms|access-date=30 September 2013|date=30 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930075930/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lalu-Prasad-convicted-in-fodder-scam-case-faces-disqualification-as-MP/articleshow/23295574.cms|archive-date=30 September 2013}}</ref> He was given a jail sentence of five years and a fine of ]25 ] (]2.5 million).<ref name="five">{{cite news|title=Fodder scam: Lalu Prasad gets 5 years in jail, stands disqualified |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ranchi/Fodder-scam-Lalu-Prasad-gets-5-years-in-jail-stands-disqualified/Article1-1130469.aspx |access-date=3 October 2013 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=3 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003103058/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ranchi/Fodder-scam-Lalu-Prasad-gets-5-years-in-jail-stands-disqualified/Article1-1130469.aspx |archive-date=3 October 2013 }}</ref>

He was released on bail from Birsa Munda Central Jail, after he completed the bail formalities in a Special CBI court, {{frac|2|1|2}} months after his conviction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-prasad-yadav-released-from-jail-1936089|title=Lalu Prasad Yadav released from jail – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=16 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302104919/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-prasad-yadav-released-from-jail-1936089|archive-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>

====1998 disproportionate assets case====
In 1998, a ] (DA) case arising out of the fodder scam was registered against Yadav and Rabri Devi.<ref>{{cite news|title=Timeline of Lalu Prasad's conviction|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Timeline-of-Lalu-Prasads-conviction/articleshow/23291164.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003024845/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-30/india/42535102_1_judge-pravas-kumar-singh-fodder-scam-lalu-prasad|archive-date=3 October 2013|access-date=7 October 2013 |newspaper=]|url-status=live|date=30 September 2013}}</ref> In April 2000, both were made co-accused in the charge-sheet and surrendered. While Rabri Devi got bail due to being Chief Minister of Bihar, Yadav was remanded in Beur jail for 11 days.<ref name="ref_ride_to_Ranchi" /> They were acquitted in 2006. The Bihar government wanted to appeal against the acquittal but the Supreme Court in 2010 ruled that the state government can not challenge such rulings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lalu wins Disproportionate Assets case in Supreme Court|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/lalu-wins-disproportionate-assets-case-in-supreme-court-18894|access-date=7 October 2013|newspaper=NDTV|date=1 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004051218/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/lalu-wins-disproportionate-assets-case-in-supreme-court-18894|archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref>

==== 1996 Fodder Scam – 2nd case ====
Yadav was convicted and jailed in the second Fodder Scam case of ]8.927 million<ref name=lal1> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330081815/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62447068.cms |date=30 March 2018 }}, ], 11 January 2018.</ref> on the same day 23 December 2017 when his daughter Misa Bharti was also charged by the ] of having disproportionate assets.<ref name="chor1"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107062521/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62220882.cms |date=7 January 2018 }}, ], 23 Dec 2017.</ref><ref name=misha4 /><ref name=misha2 /> Yadav was convicted 23 December 2017 and sentenced on 6 January 2018 to 3{{frac|1|2}} years' imprisonment and ]1,000,000 fine for the fraudulent withdrawal of ]8,900,000 from the ] district treasury between 1990 and 1994.

==== 1996 Fodder Scam – 3rd case ====
This case, pertaining to scamming ]356.2 million scammed from the ] treasury of ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lalu-prasad-yadav-sentenced-to-five-years-in-jail-in-third-fodder-scam-case/articleshow/62633292.cms |title=Lalu Yadav news: Lalu Prasad Yadav sentenced to five years in jail in third fodder scam case |website=] |date=24 January 2018 |access-date=2018-01-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124150003/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lalu-prasad-yadav-sentenced-to-five-years-in-jail-in-third-fodder-scam-case/articleshow/62633292.cms |archive-date=24 January 2018}}</ref>

==== 1996 Fodder Scam – 4th case ====
Yadav was convicted by the special CBI court in the fourth fodder scam case relating to alleged withdrawal of ]3.13 crore from the ] treasury over two decades ago.<ref name="Fourth fodder scam case">{{cite web |title=Fourth fodder scam case: Lalu Prasad convicted, Jagannath Mishra acquitted |date=19 March 2018|work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/fourth-fodder-scam-case-lalu-yadav-convicted-jagannath-mishra-acquitted/articleshow/63363630.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319213744/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/fourth-fodder-scam-case-lalu-yadav-convicted-jagannath-mishra-acquitted/articleshow/63363630.cms |archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> CBI Judge awarded him two separate sentences of seven years each under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Acts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fodder-scam-case-lalu-prasad-sentenced-to-14-yrs-in-prison/articleshow/63440143.cms |title=Lalu Yadav news: Lalu Prasad sentenced under 2 provisions, gets 7 years in jail in each |website=] |date=24 March 2018 |access-date=2018-03-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324223809/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fodder-scam-case-lalu-prasad-sentenced-to-14-yrs-in-prison/articleshow/63440143.cms |archive-date=24 March 2018}}</ref>

==== 1996 Fodder Scam – 5th case ====
This case, pertaining to the scamming
Yadav has been found guilty of illegal withdrawals of ]139.35 crore from the Doranda treasury by a special CBI court in Jharkhand's Ranchi on 15 February 2022. In February 2022 A CBI court sentenced to five years jail term in fifth case and imposed a fine of ]60 lakh.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fodder-scam-lalu-prasad-yadav-sentenced-to-five-years-jail-term-in-fifth-case-rs-60-lakh-fine/articleshow/89715865.cms |title=Lalu Prasad Yadav News: Fodder scam case; Lalu Prasad Yadav sentenced to five years jail term in fifth case, Rs 60 lakh fine |newspaper=Times of India |date=February 21, 2022 |access-date=2022-02-27 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221103948/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fodder-scam-lalu-prasad-yadav-sentenced-to-five-years-jail-term-in-fifth-case-rs-60-lakh-fine/articleshow/89715865.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2005 Indian Railway tender scam====
<!-- Please update this section as case progresses and update the "(last updated: MMM YYYY)" time stamp at the end -->
2005 Indian Railway tender scam, investigated by the CBI, is the bribery and corruption case where Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family are charged for illegally receiving prime property from the bidder as a bribe for corruptly awarding the Railway tender during Yadav's tenure as Railway Minister.<ref name=ChorFamily1 /> Transfer of these properties as bribe to Yadav and his children were disguised using the ]; for example, wife ] and three children, ], ] and ], received Saguna Mor Mall property worth ]45 crore through a shell company named Delight Marketing (renamed as Lara properties), and another shell company AB Exports was used to transfer properties worth ]40 crore for a price of ]4 lakh to Lalu's other three children Tejashwi Yadav, Ragini and Chanda.<ref name="ChorCaught1"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062556/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62400287.cms |date=8 January 2018 }}</ref><ref name="ChorCaught2"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511152043/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ed-attaches-lalu-prasad-yadav-s-rs-45-cr-patna-plot-2566190 |date=11 May 2018 }}</ref> This case spawned several other related but independent cases, such as disproportionate assets case as well as tax avoidance case by ED.<ref name="ChorFamily1" /> Under the ] recipient of such ] properties can be imprisoned for up to 7 years and fined up to 25% fair market value, and convicted politicians are barred from contesting elections or holding elected position for six years.<ref name="ChorCaught1"/>

====2017 Delight Properties case====
<!-- Please update this section as case progresses and update the "(last updated: MMM YYYY)" time stamp at the end -->
Investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), against Yadav, his wife, son Tejashwi, daughter Misa and others, arose from the alleged illegal proceeds of the 2005 Indian Railway tender scam.<ref name=ChorFamily1 /> The I-T department issued summons for 12 June 2017 to Misa Bharti, over Benami land deals worth ]10 billion (]1,000 crores).<ref name=misha2>{{cite news|title=Benami assets case: IT dept summons Lalu Yadav's daughter Misa Bharti, her husband|url=http://indianexpress.com/agency/express-web-desk/|access-date=7 June 2017|agency=EXPRESS WEB DESK|issue=24 May 2017|newspaper=Indian Express|date=2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607030130/http://indianexpress.com/agency/express-web-desk/|archive-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> Misa was officially charged by ED in disproportionate assets case on the same day her father was convicted again in the second fodder scam.<ref name=misha4> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101511/http://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/news/13160-lalu-convicted-again-on-corruption-charges.html |date=24 December 2017 }}, Patna Daily, 23 Dec 2017.</ref> After the CBI lodged an FIR on 5 July 2017, ED filed the Case Information Report (ECIR) on 27 July 2017 against Lalu, his wife Rabri, their younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and others in the railways tender corruption and ] scam that happened during Lalu's tenure as the Railway Minister.<ref name=ChorFamily1 /> Taking action against this scam, ED of ] on 12 September 2017 ] more than 12 properties in Patna and Delhi including the plot for the mall in Patna, a farm house in Delhi and up-market land in ] in Delhi.<ref name=ChorFamily1 /> This includes the transfer of ]450 million (]45 crore) Seguna mor ] property transferred to Lalu's wife Rabri Devi and children Tejashwi Yadav and ] by using a ] named Delight Properties, which was later renamed as Lara Properties.<ref name=ChorCaught2/> (Updated: 7 Jan 2018)

==== 2017 AB Exports cases ====
AB Exports was a ] used to transfer, as a bribe for the railway tender scam, ]400 million (]40 crore) ] property for a mere price of ]400,000 to Lalu's 3 children ], Ragini Yadav and Chanda Singh.<ref name=ChorCaught1/> ED has attached this property and booked the 3 accused children of Lalu.<ref name=ChorCaught1/> (Updated: 7 Jan 2018)

====2017 Patna zoo soil scam====
<!-- Please update this section as case progresses and update the "(last updated: MMM YYYY)" time stamp at the end -->
2017 Patna zoo soil scam is an allegation/case against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his sons ] and ] for the "gross irregularities" of selling soil from the construction of Tej Pratap's Saguna Mor mall basement. The bogus beautification scheme was for ]90 lakh to ] without inviting any tenders when Tej Pratap was the minister of environment and forest in Bihar, a department that controls the zoo. The scam came to the light in April 2017, a ] (PIL) was filed in ] in October 2017, court ordered the Bihar government to furnish the details of investigation, following which the case was handed over to Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) department for the investigation under the Pollution Control Board Act, the Environment Protection Act and Wildlife Protection Act (1972) (update: 6 Jan 2018).<ref name="Source1a"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043302/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/govt-report-dismisses-patna-zoo-soil-purchase-scam-117042200689_1.html |date=9 August 2022 }} 22 April 2017, Business Standard, 2017.</ref><ref name=Source1b> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233428/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bihar-govt-hands-over-probe-of-soil-scam-involving-lalu-and-tej-pratap-to-vigilance-bureau/story-80yl3LQbeIzmufKlVBeLbJ.html |date=8 January 2018 }}, ], 2017.</ref>

The Bihar government said that official procedure was duly followed in the case and prima facie no evidence of irregularity has come into light in zoo soil deal. (Updated: 31 May 2020)<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2017-04-22|title=Govt report dismisses Patna zoo soil purchase scam|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/govt-report-dismisses-patna-zoo-soil-purchase-scam-117042200689_1.html|access-date=2020-05-31|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043302/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/govt-report-dismisses-patna-zoo-soil-purchase-scam-117042200689_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Bail===
Yadav was convicted in the controversial ], and was serving a term until 17 April 2021, when he was granted bail from the ] ] in the ].<ref name="Lalu Yadav granted bail: HC"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Lalu Yadav Gets Bail In Case Linked To Fodder Scam|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-politician-lalu-yadav-gets-bail-in-case-linked-to-fodder-scam-2415694|access-date=2021-04-17|website=NDTV.com|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417081636/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-politician-lalu-yadav-gets-bail-in-case-linked-to-fodder-scam-2415694|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Criticism==
=== Corruption, nepotism and dynasticism ===
Yadav is one of the first noted politicians to lose parliamentary seat on being arrested in fodder scam as per Supreme Court decision banning convicted legislators to hold their posts.<ref name=bbcfive>{{cite news|title=India corruption: Laloo Prasad Yadav jailed for five years|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24378032|access-date=4 October 2013|newspaper=BBC News India|date=3 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20131004141008/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24378032|archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> During his tenure as Chief Minister, Bihar's law and order was at lowest,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farz |first=Ahmed |date=June 10, 2002 |title=Laloo Prasad Yadav's army of raiders ensures his daughter's wedding is not forgotten easily |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20020610-laloo-prasad-yadav-army-of-raiders-ensures-his-daughter-wedding-is-not-forgotten-easily-795122-2002-06-10 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103111748/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20020610-laloo-prasad-yadav-army-of-raiders-ensures-his-daughter-wedding-is-not-forgotten-easily-795122-2002-06-10 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 24, 1998 |first=Bharat |last=Desai |title=IAS officer's wife charges Laloo Prasad Yadav's associate with rape |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19980824-ias-officers-wife-charges-laloo-prasad-yadavs-associate-with-rape-826927-1998-08-24 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428171130/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19980824-ias-officers-wife-charges-laloo-prasad-yadavs-associate-with-rape-826927-1998-08-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> kidnapping was on rise and private armies mushroomed.<ref name=low>{{cite news|last=Phadnis|first=Aditi|title=Lalu Prasad Yadav: From symbol of hope to ridicule|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/lalu-prasad-yadav-from-symbol-of-hope-to-ridicule-113093000895_1.html|access-date=1 October 2013|newspaper=Business Standard|date=30 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002173442/http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/lalu-prasad-yadav-from-symbol-of-hope-to-ridicule-113093000895_1.html|archive-date=2 October 2013}}</ref> He was also criticized by opposition in the ] case and the death of his daughter Ragini Yadav's friend, Abhishek Mishra, in mysterious circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2006 |last=Kislaya |title=Opposition guns for Lalu Prasad Yadav in death of daughter's friend from BIT Ranchi |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20061225-abhishek-involved-with-lalu-daughter-ragini-drowned-in-mysterious-circumstances-2006-781827-2006-12-25 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428091350/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20061225-abhishek-involved-with-lalu-daughter-ragini-drowned-in-mysterious-circumstances-2006-781827-2006-12-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=जब पटना क एक गराज म मिली दो लाश और हिल गई थी बिहार की सरकार |url=https://www.jansatta.com/crime-news-hindi/bihar-shilpi-jain-and-gautam-singh-case-which-shook-bihar-government/2084830/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Jansatta |date=13 March 2022 |language=hi |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314060755/https://www.jansatta.com/crime-news-hindi/bihar-shilpi-jain-and-gautam-singh-case-which-shook-bihar-government/2084830/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Criticism on Yadavisation===
Lalu Yadav's rule witnessed Yadav caste becoming assertive in the rural and urban landscape of Bihar, leading his opponents to coin the slogan of "Yadavisation" of Bihar's polity and administration. This fact was used by other political parties to dislodge his government on the charges of working for the benefit of a single caste group at the cost of various other backward communities. According to a report of Indian Human Development Survey (2011–12), ]s topped in average per capita income with ]28,093, the other upper castes of Bihar which comprises Rajputs have an average per capita income of ]20,655, closely followed by middle agrarian castes like ]s and ]s earning ]18,811 and ]17,835 respectively as their average per capita income. In contrast, ]s' income is one of the lowest among OBCs at ]12,314, which is slightly less than the rest of ]s (]12,617). Hence, despite the political mobilisation of backward castes in post mandal period, the upper-caste are still the highest income groups in Bihar. According to this report, the economic benefits of the ] could be seen as affecting only few backward castes of agrarian background leading to their upward mobilisation. The Yadavs hence transformed their assertiveness to the upward mobility in the politics only while the other "Backward Castes" gained momentum in the other fields, though still the upper-caste dominance was retained in upper echelon of bureaucracy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/bihar-elections-caste-obc-mandal-6929329/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122091426/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/bihar-elections-caste-obc-mandal-6929329/ |title=Lower castes in Bihar have got political power, not economic progress|editor1=]|editor2=Kalaiyarasan A|website=Indian Express|date=5 November 2020 |access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021}}</ref>

== Writings ==
Lalu Prasad has written his autobiography named ''Gopalganj to Raisina Road''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=How I arrested Advani: Lalu Prasad Yadav|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/culture/books/how-i-arrested-advani-lalu-prasad-yadav/cid/1690038|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043300/https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/culture/books/how-i-arrested-advani-lalu-prasad-yadav/cid/1690038|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

* ] (Bollywood), as himself (special appearance)
* Mahua (])
* Gudri Ke Lal (])<ref>{{Cite news|title=Did you know Lalu Yadav and these 6 other politicians have acted in films?|work=INUTH|url=https://www.inuth.com/news/did-you-know-lalu-yadav-and-these-6-other-politicians-have-acted-in-films/lite/|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619115830/https://www.inuth.com/news/did-you-know-lalu-yadav-and-these-6-other-politicians-have-acted-in-films/lite/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==In media==

=== Books ===
*A writer named Neena Jha has written a book on Lalu Prasad named ''Lalu Prasad, India's miracle''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jha|first=Neena|title=Lalu Prasad, India's miracle|publisher=Bismillah: the beginning foundation|year=2008|isbn=978-81-904350-1-7}}</ref>
*Book named Laloo'' Prasad Yadav: A Charismatic Leader'' was published in 1996.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Neelkamal|first=Neelam|title=Laloo Prasad Yadav: A Charismatic Leader|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|year=1996}}</ref>
*''"The Making of Laloo Yadav, The Unmaking of Bihar"'', updated and reprinted under the title ''"Subaltern Sahib: Bihar and the Making of Laloo Yadav"'', is a book based on Lalu's life by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/book-review-of-the-making-of-laloo-yadav/1/244328.html|title=Book review: Sankarshan Thakurs The Making of Laloo Yadav|date=19 June 2000 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301203540/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/book-review-of-the-making-of-laloo-yadav/1/244328.html|archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-godmothers-of-bihar/article1-617030.aspx|title=The godmothers of Bihar|date=23 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314024642/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-godmothers-of-bihar/article1-617030.aspx|archive-date=14 March 2014}}</ref>

=== Movies ===

* ], the ] movie was released in 2005. It was based on a girl named Padmshree, her boyfriend Laloo, her lawyer Prasad and Yadav was Lalu Prasad himself as a special appearance.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chaudhry|first=Deeptakriti|title=Bollybook: The Big Book of Hindi Movie Trivia|publisher=Penguin UK|year=2014|isbn=978-93-5118-799-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Skoda|first=Uwe|title=India and Its Visual Cultures: Community, Class and Gender in a Symbolic Landscape|publisher=SAGE Publishing India|year=2017|isbn=978-93-86446-69-5}}</ref>
*Upcoming ] film ''Lalten'' is a biopic based on the life of Lalu Prasad.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lalu Prasad Yadav biopic titled 'Lalten'|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/lalu-prasad-yadav-biopic-titled-lalten/article29830659.ece/amp/|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043302/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/lalu-prasad-yadav-biopic-titled-lalten/article29830659.ece/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*]
*]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://rjd.co.in/shri-lalu-prasad-yadav.html}}

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Latest revision as of 19:41, 23 December 2024

20th Chief Minister of Bihar

Lalu Prasad
Lalu as Union Minister of Railways, addressing in New Delhi on 12 September 2004
30th Union Minister of Railways
In office
24 May 2004 – 23 May 2009
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byNitish Kumar
Succeeded byMamata Banerjee
President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 July 1997
Preceded byoffice established
20th Chief Minister of Bihar
In office
4 April 1995 – 25 July 1997
GovernorA. R. Kidwai
Preceded byPresident's rule
Succeeded byRabri Devi
In office
10 March 1990 – 28 March 1995
GovernorMohammad Yunus Saleem
Preceded byJagannath Mishra
Succeeded byPresident's rule
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
22 May 2009 – 3 October 2013
Preceded byconstituency established
Succeeded byRajiv Pratap Rudy
ConstituencySaran, Bihar
In office
24 May 2004 – 22 May 2009
Preceded byRajiv Pratap Rudy
Succeeded byconstituency abolished
ConstituencyChhapra, Bihar
In office
10 March 1998 – 26 April 1999
Preceded bySharad Yadav
Succeeded bySharad Yadav
ConstituencyMadhepura
In office
2 December 1989 – 10 March 1990
Preceded byRambahadur Singh
Succeeded byLal Babu Rai
ConstituencyChhapra, Bihar
In office
23 March 1977 – 22 August 1979
Preceded byRamshekhar Prasad Singh
Succeeded bySatya Deo Singh
ConstituencyChhapra, Bihar
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
10 April 2002 – 13 May 2004
ConstituencyBihar
12th Leader of the Opposition
Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
18 March 1989 – 7 December 1989
Preceded byKarpoori Thakur
Succeeded byAnup Lal Yadav
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
3 March 2000 – 10 April 2002
Preceded byVijay Singh Yadav
Succeeded byRama Nand Yadav
ConstituencyDanapur
In office
4 April 1995 – 10 March 1998
Preceded byUday Narayan Rai
Succeeded byRajgir Choudhary
ConstituencyRaghopur
In office
8 June 1980 – 2 December 1989
Preceded byRam Sundar Das
Succeeded byRaj Kumar Roy
ConstituencySonpur
Member of Bihar Legislative Council
In office
7 May 1990 – 4 April 1995
Constituencyelected by Legislative assembly member's
Personal details
Born (1948-06-11) 11 June 1948 (age 76)
Phulwariya, Bihar, India
Political partyRashtriya Janata Dal
Other political
affiliations
Janata Dal
Spouse Rabri Devi ​(m. 1973)
RelationsTej Pratap Singh Yadav (son-in-law)
Chiranjeev Rao (son-in-law)
Sadhu Yadav (brother-in-law)
Subhash Prasad Yadav (brother-in-law)
Children9 (including Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Misa Bharti)
Parents
  • Kundan Rai (father)
  • Marachhiya Devi (mother)
Alma materPatna University (B.A.,LLB)
Websiterjd.co.in/shri-lalu-prasad/

Lalu Prasad (born 11 June 1948) is an Indian politician and president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He is a former Chief Minister of Bihar (1990-1997), a former Railway Minister of India (2004-2009), and a former Member of Parliament (MP) of the Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha.

He entered politics at Patna University as a student leader and in 1977 at the age of 29, was elected as the youngest member of the Lok Sabha for the Janata Party. He became the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1990. His party came to power in 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election in partnership with Nitish Kumar of JD(U). This coalition ended when Nitish resigned and RJD was ousted, becoming the opposition party.

In 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, RJD remained the single largest party in Bihar, and along with JD(U) in power after JD(U) rejoined MGB in 2022, headed the government until JD(U) returned to NDA. Lalu was convicted in the controversial Fodder Scam, and was serving a term until 17 April 2021, when he was granted bail from the High Court.

Early life and education

Lalu Prasad, the fifth of six sons born to Kundan Rai and Marachhiya Devi, was born on June 11, 1948, in Phulwaria village, situated along the Gopalganj-Kushinagar highway (NH-27) in Gopalganj district of Bihar. He started his education at a local middle school before moving to Patna with his older brother, Mukund Rai, who enrolled him in an upper primary school in Sheikhpura. After finishing his primary education there, he was enrolled in the Government Middle School located on the Bihar Military Police (BMP) campus, which was next to their quarters at the veterinary college campus.

Siblings

The Siblings list is in the order of age.

  1. Mangru Rai (eldest)
  2. Gulab Rai
  3. Mukund Rai
  4. Mahavir Rai
  5. Gangotri Devi (lone sister)
  6. Lalu Prasad (himself only alive)
  7. Sukhdeo Rai (youngest)

His father passed away after he completed his matriculation in 1965 from Miller High School in Patna, where he was also a passionate footballer. He changed its name to Devipad Choudhary Shaheed Smarak (Miller) Ucchya Madhyamik Vidyalaya in honour of Devipad Choudhary, who was a freedom fighter and student of the same school. He was also a NCC cadet, there. According to his Lok Sabha affidavit, he obtained his I.A. (Arts) from B.N. College of Patna University the following year. However, it is noteworthy that B.N. College does not offer this course, and the program typically spans two years, yet he claims to have completed it in the same year, he got enrolled there. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, he worked as a clerk at Bihar Veterinary College in Patna, where his eldest brother was employed as a peon. During his time there, he served as the General Secretary of the Patna University Students' Union from 1970 to 1971 and later became its President from 1973 to 1974. He later earned his L.L.B. degree from Patna Law College in 1976. Lalu Prasad asserts that he belongs to Yadav caste; however, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary,Jitan Ram Manjhi,among others, have alleged that his actual caste is Gaderia. He turned down Patna University's Honorary Doctorate in 2004.

Personal life and family

See also: Political families of Bihar § Lalu Yadav family

Lalu married Rabri Devi on 1 June 1973, in an arranged marriage, and they went on to have seven daughters and two sons.

Note: Rahul Yadav is son of Jitendra Yadav, former MLC from the Samajwadi Party. Jitendra is the nephew of former MP D. P. Yadav.

Political career

1970–1990: Student leader and youngest MP

Lalu Prasad addressing Yuva Janata Dal in Nayagaon, Sonpur in 1988

In 1970, Lalu entered in student politics as the general secretary of the Patna University Students' Union (PUSU), became its president in 1973, joined Jai Prakash Narayan' Bihar Movement in 1974 where he became sufficiently close to Janata Party (JP) leaders to become the Janta alliance's winning candidate in the 1977 Lok Sabha election from Chapra at the age of 29.

In 1979, the Janata Party government fell due to in-fighting. The parliament was dissolved with new polls held in 1980. Lalu quit Janta party to join the splinter group, Janta Party-S led by Raj Narain, only to lose the re-election in 1980. He managed to win Bihar Legislative Assembly election later in 1980, and again in 1985 to become leader of opposition in Bihar assembly in 1989. Later in 1989, he was also elected for Lok Sabha under V. P. Singh government. By 1990, he positioned himself as the leader of Yadav (11.7% of the Bihar's) and lower castes. Muslims, who had traditionally served as Congress (I) vote bank, shifted their support to Prasad after the 1989 Bhagalpur violence. He became popular among the young voters of Bihar.

1990–1997: Lalu Yadav as Chief Minister of Bihar

In 1990, Janata Dal came to power in Bihar. PM V. P. Singh wanted former chief minister Ram Sundar Das to lead the government. and Chandra Shekhar backed Raghunath Jha. To break deadlock deputy PM Devi Lal nominated Prasad as CM candidate. He was victorious in an internal poll of Janta Dal MLA's and became the chief minister. On 23 September 1990, Prasad arrested L. K. Advani at Samastipur during the latter's Ram Rath Yatra to Ayodhya, which establish himself as a secular leader among the people of Bihar. The World Bank lauded his party for its work in the 1990s on the economic front. In 1993, Prasad adopted a pro-English policy and pushed for the re-introduction of English as a language in school curriculum, contrary to the angrezi hatao (banish English) policy of then Uttar Pradesh CM Mulayam Singh Yadav. Policy of opposition to English was considered an anti-elite policy since both the Yadav leaders represented the same social constituents – the backward castes, dalits and minority communities. With the mass support of people of Bihar, Lalu continued to be Bihar CM.

1997–2000: Formation of RJD and National Politics

RJD flag

In 1997, due to allegation related to Fodder Scam, a leadership revolt surfaced in Janta Dal, consequently Lalu broke away from Janta Dal and formed a new political party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In 1998 general for 12th Lok Sabha Lalu won from Madhepura, but lost in 1999 general election to Sharad Yadav. In 2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly election he won and remained in opposition.

Lalu Yadav sitting with Kapildev Singh in Pokharpur during his arrival in Nalanda in 2003

2000–2005:Rabri Devi as Chief Ministers of Bihar

In 2002, Lalu was elected in Rajya Sabha where he stayed until 2004. In 2000, RJD again formed the government with Rabri Devi as the CM. Except for brief president rule and 7 days term of Nitish Kumar, RJD remained in power in Bihar until 2005.

2004–2009: Union Minister of Railway

Lalu Prasad Yadav assumes the charge as Railways Minister in New Delhi on May 24, 2004

In May 2004, Lalu Yadav contested the general election from Chhapra and Madhepura against Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Sharad Yadav respectively and won both seats with a huge margin with the great support and faith of the People of Bihar. In total, RJD won 21 seats and it allied with Indian National Congress becoming second-largest member of UPA I after Congress. Lalu Yadav became the Railway Minister in the 2004 UPA Government. Later, he gave up the Madhepura seat.

As railway minister, Lalu Yadav left passenger fares untouched and focused on other sources of revenue for the railways. He banned plastic cups from being used to serve tea at railway stations and replaced those with kulhars (earthen cups), in order to generate more employment in rural areas. Later, he also said that he had plans to introduce buttermilk and khādī. In June 2004, he announced that he would get on the railway himself to inspect its problems and went on to board the train from Patna Railway station at midnight.

When he took over, the Indian Railways was a loss-making organisation. In the years under his leadership, it showed a cumulative total profit of ₹38,000 crore (US$4.6 billion). Business schools around the world became interested in Lalu Yadav's leadership in managing the turnaround. The turnaround was introduced as a case study by the Indian Institute of Management. Yadav also received invitations from eight Ivy League schools for lectures, and addressed over a hundred students from Harvard, Wharton and others in Hindi.

In 2006, the Harvard Business School and HEC Management School, France, showed interest in turning Lalu Yadav's experiment with the Indian Railway into case studies for aspiring business graduates.

In 2009, Yadav's successor Mamata Banerjee and the opposition parties alleged that the so-called turnaround of the Railways during his tenure was merely a result of presenting financial statements differently. A 2011 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) endorsed this view. CAG found that the "surplus" shown on the financial statements during Yadav's tenure covered "cash and investible surplus", which were not included in the "net surplus" figures released by the Railways in the earlier years. The "cash surplus" included the money available for paying dividend, contribution to the Depreciation Reserve Fund used for renewal or replacement of existing assets, and other funds for investment. The "investible surplus" included the money allocated for capital expenditure. The report concluded that the performance of the Railways actually declined marginally during the last few years of Lalu's tenure.

Yadav together with Ram Vilas Paswan and Amar Singh at a party rally in Mumbai during the 2009 general elections

2005–2015: Out of power in Bihar and Center

Bihar Assembly elections were held twice in the year 2005. There was a fractured verdict in February 2005 Assembly Election. Since no government could be formed in Bihar, fresh elections were held in October–November the same year. In November 2005 state elections RJD won 54 seats, less than both Janata Dal United (JDU) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Nitish Kumar led coalition, consisting of JD(U) and BJP, came to power. In the 2010 elections, the RJD tally was reduced to just 22 seats whereas the ruling alliance claimed a record 206 out of the 243 Assembly seats. In 2009 general election RJD won 4 seats and provided outside support to Manmohan Singh government. In May 2012, Lalu Prasad Yadav envisaged Hamid Ansari, previous vice-president, as a presidential candidate. In May 2013, Lalu Yadav tried to rejuvenate the party and fuel the party workers in his Parivartan Rally. After the conviction in Fodder Scam on 3 October 2013, Yadav was disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha. In 2014 general election, Lalu Yadav's RJD again won 4 seats.

2015–current: Grand Alliance

In the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, Lalu Yadav's RJD became the largest party with a total of 81 seats. He along with his partner Nitish Kumar of JD(U) had the absolute majority to form a government in Bihar. This was cited as a major comeback for the RJD and for Lalu Yadav on the political stage of Bihar after a gap of 10 years. But that suffocating alliance did not last long as Nitish Kumar dumped and ousted Lalu's party from the power and alliance in July 2017 after the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation lodged several criminal cases against Lalu's son and Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav.

Positions held

Lalu has been elected 4 times as MLA and 5 times as Lok Sabha MP.

# From To Position Party
1. 1977 1979 Janata Party
2. 1980 1985 Janata Party
3. 1985 1989 Lok Dal
4. 1989 1990 Janata Dal
5. 1990 1995 Janata Dal
6. 1995 1998 Janata Dal
7. 1998 1999 RJD
8. 2000 2000 RJD
9. 2002 2004 RJD
10. 2004 2009 RJD
11. 2009 2013 RJD

Note:

  • 2004: Re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha (4th term) from Chapra and Madhepura; retained Chapra. Appointed Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Railways in UPA govt. Lalu, wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav and daughter Misa Bharti booked for railway tender bribery scam, disproportionate illegal property and income tax evasion cases in 2017.
  • 2009: Re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha (5th term). Contested two seats. Lost from Pataliputra but won from Saran, and disqualified in 2013 subsequent to his conviction in the first fodder scam case. And barred from contesting elections for 6 years.

Populist policies and consolidation of lower castes

Shri Lalu Prasad presenting a cheque of Rs. thirty lacs to Akhil Kumar at the opening ceremony of the 56th Senior National Kabaddi (Men & Women) Championship being organized by Railway Sports Promotion Board.

According to Seyed Hossein Zarhani, although Laloo Prasad became a hate figure among Forward Castes, he drew huge support from backward castes and Dalits. He was criticised for neglecting development, but a study conducted during his reign, among downtrodden Musahars revealed that despite the construction of houses for them not being concluded at required pace, they are obliged to choose him as their leader as he returned them their ijjat (honour) and for the first time they are allowed to vote as per their own wishes. A number of populist policies which directly impacted his "Backward Caste" supporters were launched during his tenure. Some of these being establishment of Charvaha schools, where children of poor could get skilled; abolishment of cess on toddy and making of the negligence of rules related to reservation for "Backward Castes" as cognizable offence. Yadav mobilised 'Backwards' through his identity politics. According to his conception, Forward Castes were elite in the outlook and thus he portrayed himself as, "Messiah of Backwards" by ensuring that his way of living remain identical to his supporters who were mostly poor. He even continued to reside in his quarter of one room after getting elected as Chief Minister, though later he moved to official residence of the CM for administrative convenience.

Another significant event during his regime was the recruitment of 'Backward Castes' and communities to government services in large numbers. The government's white paper claimed to have significant number of vacancies in health sector and similar manpower crunch existed across various sectors. The rules of recruitment were changed drastically in order to benefit "Backward Castes", who supported him. The frequent transfer of existing officers, who were at the higher echelon of bureaucracy was also an important feature of Yadav and Rabri Devi's regime. These developments led to collapse of administration and entire system. Yadav however continued to rule Bihar due to massive support from "Backward Castes" as well as his emphasis on "honour" which he considered more important than the development. Thus according to Zarhani, for the lower caste he was a charismatic leader who was capable to become the voice of those who were silent for long.

Another form of mobilisation of his Dalit supporters by Laloo Yadav was popularising all those folk heroes of lower castes, who were said to have vanquished the upper caste adversaries. One such example is of a popular Dalit saint who was revered as he not only ran away with an upper caste girl but also suppressed all her kins. Praising him could enrage Bhumihar caste in some parts of Bihar. There is a grand celebration every year at a particular place near Patna and Yadav participates in this fair with pomp and show. His energetic participation in this show makes it a rallying point for Dalits, who saw it as their victory and the harassment of upper castes.

According to Kalyani Shankar, Yadav created a feeling amongst the oppressed that they are real rulers of state under him. He continuously lambasted the oppressors on the behalf of the oppressed and led to their emergence as the pivot of political power. The upper caste, who composed just 13.2% of the population, were controlling most of the land while the 'Backwards', who were 51%, own very little land. The advent of Lalu led to a drastic change in the economic profile of the state, followed by the diversification of the occupation of the 'Backwards' and increase in land owned by them.

Yadav also instilled a sense of confidence among Muslims by stopping Lal Krishna Advani's controversial "Rath yatra". Muslims of Bihar were feeling a sense of insecurity after the ghastly 1989 Bhagalpur riots. The Satyendra Narayan Singh government failed to control law and order situation thus death toll reached over 1000. The people affected were mostly poor weavers and others belonging to low strata of society and hence they were looking for a leader who could control the deteriorating situation of state under Congress. According to Kalyani, during this period upper castes were totally marginalised and 'Backwards' came to control the power firmly.

Emergence as the leader of plebeians

During his tenure, Yadav never tried to emulate the erstwhile elite chief ministers. He took part in the public festivals and popularised his famous Kurta far Holi (cloth tearing Holi). On this occasion his invitees and the media persons would reach his house shouting: Kaha Chhupal hai Lalu Sala (Where is the bloody Lalu hiding ?). Yadav also responded in a similar abusive tone. The vulgar songs were also played on the occasion. Besides this, he never hesitated in calling himself the son of a poor Goala (herder). During his public celebration of Holi festival, he used to play the Dhol himself and dance to the beat of Jogira song. Yadav's rallies were called railla, a symbol of masculinity. Those participating in these rallies were supposed to carry a lathi, a robust stick, which was both the symbol of "masculinity" as well as the chief weapon of a "herder", who used it to manage his cows. The drinking of Bhang, a natural liquor and sitting the whole night to watch the Launda dance (Dance of a Eunuch acting as a woman) made him popular among rural Biharis but all of these obscene activities of a Chief Minister irritated the middle class sensibilities. According to Ashwini Kumar:

An astute mix of lower caste with minority politics therefore helped Lalu Yadav to establish his hold over the political scenario in Bihar. This marked the beginning of, what came to be known as 'Total politics' in which the identity of caste, class and religion came to be manipulated and exploited by the new state elite to retain and remain in power forever. As opposed to the traditional Congress-centric secular politics, the new secular politics of Lalu Yadav was non Brahmanical, vernacular and popular.

Confrontation with bureaucracy and other policies

See also: Bara massacre
Lalu Prasad interacting with a group of MBA students from University of Texas and University of Virginia (USA) on the topic " Turn Around of Indian Railways," in New Delhi on March 16, 2007.

With the coming in power of Yadav, the representation of OBC saw a spurt in the legislative assembly of state. The upper-caste were at great disadvantage due to the new caste composition of the state legislature. In his second tenure, when the elections of 1995 took place in the state, the OBC legislators became 49.69 per cent in the assembly and the upper caste legislators fell to 17.28 per cent, a massive decline since 1960s (In 1995 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, only 61 upper caste legislators were elected, while the number of Backward Caste legislators was 165). The domination of the Backwards in the legislature brought it into conflict with the bureaucracy, which was still dominated by the upper-castes. There witnessed a hike in incidents of corruption, because the upper-caste bureaucrats utilised the 'lack of knowledge' in administration of the new legislators (from the OBC background) to stealthily sabotage and subvert constructive policies of the Yadav's government.

Since, the administrative class belonged to landed class of upper caste; the Thakur, Bhumihar, Kayastha and Brahmin, they aimed at this obstruction, in order to secure not only their personal interest, but also the interest of the social class, they belonged to. The advent of Yadav to power was considered as end of their dominance. Hence, amidst confrontation between the bureaucracy and the legislature, the upper-caste dominated bureaucracy became determined to obstruct the caste based social justice promoted by the Janata Dal government under Yadav. They often resorted to frequent defiance of orders to maintain the status-quo. Hence, the government undermined the bureaucracy, as the government, which is said to have voted to power on the platform of OBC empowerment, was also determined to bring the social justice, even at the cost of administrative disfunction.

At the time, the caste composition of judiciary also mirrored the bureaucracy and latter too come into conflict with the government. In the meantime, in the year 1996, a major scandal was witnessed in the state, which involved embezzlement of billions of rupees from the Animal Husbandry Department of state. Initially, the case was to be investigated by Bihar police, which means, government to be in the control of the investigation, but later the judiciary came into play, and the reservation of the case by Supreme Court for Central Bureau of Investigation, saw Patna High Court assuming charge over the case. The Fodder Scam, as it was called was a new series of conflict between the government on one hand and the CBI and Judiciary at the other hand.

Between 1990 and 2005, the government under Yadav's Janata Dal undertook several measures to strengthen the control of OBCs, Scheduled Caste and Muslims over bureaucracy. Latter were given the powerful position like those of District Magistrate. Transfers of the upper echelon of bureaucracy was also frequently resorted to. In the year 1993, the post of Director General of Police as well as Chief Secretary were both given to officers belonging to lower castes and the incumbent officers, who were both Brahmins were removed. Since the strategy of transfer of unwanted bureaucrats has a limit, Yadav's government was adamant in use of quota to fill these posts with the officials from the subaltern background. If unable to appoint the lower castes, the government chose to keep many posts vacant, to prevent the upper castes from occupying them.

In order to weaken the upper-caste bureaucracy, the scope for intervention in its functioning by the party officials, belonging to Janata Dal was kept open.Hence, increased interference by party activists in the functioning of bureaucracy and police was witnessed. Meanwhile, the resurgence of the OBCs and SCs also resulted in extension of patronage to many of the Bahubalis ( a term representing someone with money and muscle power with criminal background) from these social groups. Yadav is said to have patronised; Pappu Yadav, operating out of Purnea and Madhepura districts; Vinod Yadav, operating out of Bhagalpur district; Surendra Yadav, operating out of Gaya district; Mohammad Shahabuddin, operating out of Siwan district; Makhi Paswan, operating out of Khagaria district; and Mohammed Suleiman, operating out of Kishanganj district. Yadav's aide Brij Bihari Prasad, who was known for his muscle power ended the crime empire of Devendra Dubey, that was spread from East Champaran to Muzaffarpur district. Naxal leaders like Ravindra Singh Kushwaha, who were waging a war against the landlords through various naxal organisations active in the state, were invited to Janata Dal and allotted tickets to contest in assembly election. Subsequently, all the criminal cases against him were dropped, during the premiership of Yadav.

A popular opinion outside Bihar with respect to weakening of bureaucracy and "breakdown of governance" was the presence of rampant corruption and leadership's ineptitude in Yadav's regime. But, according to Jeffrey Witsoe, the RJD deliberately weakened the state institutions controlled by upper-castes in order to empower the lower castes. The OBCs were in control of government but the media and the bureaucracy along with the judiciary was still in control of upper-castes, it was this upper-caste dominance of the other state institutions that the OBC leadership was vying to end by trying to displace the upper-castes effectively from power.

In the meantime, accusations were laid against Yadav's government for fomenting caste based antagonism between various social groups. Various commentators have stressed that under Yadav's Janata Dal rule, the agricultural labourers and untouchables became vocal for respect from the dominant class and the fair wages. Retaliation on the part of lower castes were also seen, when the dominant caste militias tried to quell their revolt on these grounds. In one such case, in December 1991, a dominant caste militia called "Savarna Liberation Front" gangraped and murdered ten Dalit women, in retaliation, the left wing militants all belonging either Dalit or Backward Castes killed thirty five people from the dominant caste. William Dalrymple has chronicled the account of a dominant caste landowner who survived the massacre. The interlocutor of Dalrymple, who declared the incident to be a handiwork of Bihar government under Yadav said:

The government will not protect us. It is on their side. This is the Kali Yug, the epoch of disintegration. The lower castes are rising up. Everything is falling apart.

Another account from the Sargana Gram Panchayat area testifies the change in established socio-political order brought by the government under Yadav. A large Rajput farmer from the Panchayat constituency, who had been a predecessor of the incumbent Mukhiya of the village said:

The Backwards control the Government. In return, the Government pampers the Backwards (Sar pe chadha kar rakha hai). Not only that, they talk about empowering the harijans. They have both ruined the State. To top it all, they say they will protect the Pakistanis (an epithet to describe Muslims)....

As per one opinion, Yadav extended tacit support to the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCC), and in the period of caste wars, he, as a Chief Minister frequently visited the places, where the victims were from Backward Castes. It is opined that many people from these castes voted him, only because he represented their aspiration of speaking back and becoming virile. The poor of the state couldn't gain much in terms of jobs and services of state, but they were no longer left to be treated with disdain. Nandini Gooptu has mentioned some studies from the rural Bihar, belonging to the time period following the coming into power of Yadav, where the Schedule Castes like Musahars became vocal for their rights including wages, for the work they do under 'employment guarantee schemes' of government. In one such study, a Musahar woman was recorded abusing the government officials belonging to Rajput caste for cheating on wages due to them. Similarly, in another case, a Schedule Tribe Santhal was recorded taunting son of a Kayastha landlord. Many changes were observed at the lowest level of governance too; in one such case, a Rajput landlord family was replaced by a Kevat caste man for the post of Mukhiya in a village. These changes in the rural Bihar was found to be remarkable, considering the brutally enforced inequalities persisting therein for years.

In the early years of his rise in political circle, Yadav was also successful in creating defection in the left-wing political parties of the state, which had long history of association with Naxalism. In the areas around Nalanda and Aurangabad, the weakening of the CPI-ML liberation is attributed to the significant rise of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led by Yadav. The RJD successfully attracted the Koeri and Yadav leadership of the party, thus strengthening itself at the cost of liberation. The leaders of CPI (ML) liberation, who defected to RJD included, Shri Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, Umesh Singh, K.D Yadav and Suryadev Singh.

Yadav's rule also led to breaking away of patron-client relationship in elections between the upper castes and the Dalits. The labourers of the upper caste landlords were primarily people from Dalit background, who were forced to vote in the elections as per the wishes of their masters, the upper castes. But, in this period, the agricultural labourers were given free hand in exercising their power to select their representatives. This transformation of the existing system brought political freedom for a large number of Dalits.

Earlier, the primary schools, which served as polling station during the elections used to be present in the upper caste villages. Hence, the Dalits needed to visit the upper caste villages to vote during elections. This was a problematic arrangement as the upper caste used to coerce them to vote their preferred candidate. However, journalist Amberish K Diwanji, who visited many villages in Bihar during 2005 Assembly elections, found that these schools were shifted to lower caste villages, by Lalu Prasad Yadav when he assumed the charge of state in earlier elections. This prevented the upper castes from coercing the Dalits during elections, and latter can exercise their franchise freely. Diwanji also noted that there existed robust social bonding between Yadavs and Musahars in some regions of Madhepura district. As per his report, in this region, the Yadavs had taken the place of upper caste in deciding, to whom the Musahars will vote. But, unlike upper castes, who didn't mingle with the Musahars, the Yadavs, specially the poor ones, considered them as equal. Due to similar economic condition, the poor Yadavs in the region, mingled with the Musahars, their children play with each other and they behaved as a single social unit. Reportedly, this bonding often transforms into votes and Musahars prefers Lalu Prasad Yadav than any other political leader.

In some of the regions of the rural area of South Bihar, after the establishment of rule of Janata Dal under Lalu Prasad Yadav, the realignment in the policy of militant organisations like Maoist Communist Centre was observed. The MCC was dominated by the members of Yadav caste in the leadership position and the Schedule Castes served as the foot soldiers. Before advent of Lalu Prasad Yadav on the scene in 1980s, MCC was waging a "class war", however, after Yadav assumed the premiership of the state the Yadav caste and Schedule Castes of the MCC shifted their loyalty to him. Earlier, the MCC had targeted Rajputs in the Dalelchak-Bhagaura massacre, but according to author Shashi Bhushan Singh, Yadav wanted a political alliance with the Rajputs and he directed the MCC members, specially his castemen to stop targeting the Rajputs. The Rajputs also accepted the dominance of Naxalite groups over the time in some regions of south Bihar and the Bhumihars remained the major challenger to both the Naxalites as well as the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav.

After perpetrating a number of massacre of Dalits, Ranvir Sena, the caste based militia of Bhumihar caste perpetrated Miyanpur massacre in 2000, in Aurangabad, Bihar. In this massacre, the Yadav caste was victim; over 30 people were killed by Sena in this incident. However, it is reported that this incident set tone for decline of Sena. As the party of Lalu Prasad Yadav, which was in government took stringent administrative policies on one hand to counter Sena, on the other hand various naxalite group also resolved their internal differences and started an extermination campaign of the men of Sena in small operations.

Combination of political and non-political conflicts

Lalu Prasad inspecting Guard of Honour at the Anniversary-cum-Investiture Parade on November 22, 2006.

The society of Bihar was divided into OBCs, SCs and Forward Castes (upper caste); the forward castes had dominated the democratic institutions of the state in the rule of Congress and only a section of OBCs were politically conscious to think of replacing them from political power, this section, which included only three caste (Koeri, Kurmi and Yadav) also owned land in other parts of Bihar, but was poor in the areas dominated of the forward castes. They took land on tenancy from the forward castes, as they were marginal farmers in these areas. A fair number of the OBCs were also employed in the state institutions and were among educated servicemen in the urban areas. They remained victims of the high handedness of the upper-caste colleagues and the rivalry between them was evolving over time.

In rural areas, the OBCs were also confronting the MBC or Extremely Backward Class (also called Most Backward Castes, the category which includes more than hundred Backward Castes, other than trio of Koeri, Kurmi and Yadav) and the Scheduled Castes, but the upper-castes treated all sections of Backward Castes in the same manner, causing much resentment among the elite section of the Backwards. In the rural areas, the upper-castes countered the Most Backward Classes and Schedule Castes, when they wanted to eschew the village based livelihood options. They reacted violently, when the MBC or the SCs tried to detach from any social institutions, that were symbol of low caste status. Since for different reasons, the OBCs, MBCs and the SCs were all pitted against the common rivals, the upper-castes, and the bitterness between the OBCs and the forward castes had strengthened after the anti-reservation protest launched by the upper-castes, unification of these social groups took place against the forward castes.

The rise of Lalu Prasad Yadav provided an opportunity to unite all these social groups and the Naxalite groups, which had many OBCs in the leadership positions, also supported the political party led by Yadav. Maoist Communist Centre of India, one of the most significant Naxalite group also sided with the interest of OBCs, and the MCC activists started providing armed backing to the Most Backward Classes and the Schedule Castes to exercise their franchise in order to led the candidates of Yadav's party towards victory. Hence, for a while, the boundary between political and Naxalite movement got blurred.

According to Professor Shashi Bhushan Singh, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, since the numerical strength of upper-caste (approximately 20% of state's population) was not enough to have large number of MLAs in the state legislature in order to control the Backward Castes, they resorted to undemocratic practices in order to retain the power in their hand, leading to rise of militancy among a section of Backwards.

The forward castes were required to send large numbers of MLAs into the state legislature, but devoid of numerical strength and encountering aggressive backward classes, the forward castes started looting polling booths with the help of the state officials and police who were mainly from among the forward castes. Subsequently the state became a biased entity. Thus, while most of the backward classes still reposed their faith in democratic struggle, a section of OBCs were attracted towards non-democratic ideas and organisations to confront the forward castes.

According to Singh, when Lalu Prasad Yadav asked for support from the members of Backward Castes, he was actually asking it in order to change the entire social order, in which upper caste were at advantage. The reservation policy introduced by the implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations though didn't benefitted the Scheduled Castes, yet they supported Yadav against the forward castes.

According to a Social Scientist, who witnessed the encounter of Yadav with a person from the Musahar caste in North India, during his election campaign for 2000 Bihar Assembly elections, Yadav allegedly argued with latter, when he asked him to provide road infrastructure in the region. As per narrative, Yadav believed that the investment by state in physical infrastructure were somehow meant for benefitting the upper castes, who were having significant presence at the higher level of bureaucracy and in professional services. Hence, he blatantly created disruption in the general process of development, until the Upper Backward Castes take over the Forward Castes in these services. A majority of the District Magistrates during his tenure were from the Upper Backward Castes, and he also tried to ensure that the administrative posts at the middle level, for the rank of Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDM) and Block Development Officer (BDO) were also filled by these caste group only. For the professional services like Doctors and Engineers too, same formula was implemented.

According to author Arun Sinha, though Yadav and his colleague and successor Nitish Kumar belonged to same political roots, in the matter of quota politics and the politics of social justice for the deprived section of society, Kumar was accepted to upper castes. One reason behind this was step taken by Kumar for exclusion of well off section of the Backward Castes from the benefits of reservation in government jobs and other state sponsored program for social upliftment. In contrast to Kumar, Yadav has been described by Sinha, and was perceived as a staunch anti-upper caste leader.

The tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabari Devi coincided with Maoist Communist Centre becoming more violent than earlier. It was during Rabari Devi's tenure that Senari carnage against the Bhumihars took place. In this incident, over hundred armed activists of MCC slaughtered 34 Bhumihars in the village called senari by brutally slitting their throats. As per reports, Rabari Devi refused to visit Senari, probably because the village inhabitants and victims, being member of Bhumihar caste had always opposed her government. It was reported that after being implicated in corruption scandal, Yadav raised his wife to the post of Chief Minister; latter was reportedly illiterate, but this was not offensive to the poor of Bihar. It is observed that for their plight, in the struggle against Dalit dominated naxal groups like MCC, Bhumihars prefer to blame Yadav, who is described as a champion of lower castes.

Political symbolism

Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2008, addressing at Delhi.

Yadav's politics is described as being against the radical Hindu Nationalism promoted by political parties like Bhartiya Janata Party. He employed political symbolism to a large extent in order to confront the politics based on militant religious ideology. In April 2003, he is reported to have organised a great rally at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, which was aimed at radicalising his lower caste supporters and mobilising them against the politics of Bhartiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). In its rally, VHP was distributing Trishuls to the participants, which was a symbol of militant Hindu identity. Yadav asked his rural supporters to join him in Gandhi Maidan with a Lathi (a robust stick) against the Trishuls of VHP. He said that, this implement (Lathi) of the rural poor, which was considered as the weapon of weak, will destroy the Trishul of hatred (an implicit attack on BJP's and VHP's politics of religion).

As per an eyewitness report, on the day of rally, the rural lower caste supporters of Yadav rushed towards Patna; many of them were brought in hurry by the local leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal to showcase their support to Yadav. The theme of the rally was, Bhajpa Bhagao Desh Bachao (get rid of Bhartiya Janata Party and save the country). The rallygoers flooded the city armed with Lathis, and in their way to Patna, many of them occupied the trains rushing towards city forcefully. Many windows of the trains were thrashed and the hostels located in Patna were occupied for the rallygoers. The crowd was so massive that the traffic in the city was destabilized for two days. The supporters were told to apply oil to their Lathis and recite the slogan: Lathi pilavan, Patna laavan, Bhajpa bhagavan, Desh bachavan (we will apply oil to our Lathis, bring it to Patna, remove the Bhartiya Janata Party and save the country). The large gathering of followers of Yadav in capital city of state of Bihar sybmolised the capture of the real centre of power by latter, as the city was reported to have flooded with Lathi welding supporters of Rashtriya Janata Dal, who were mostly the lower caste people coming from rural background.

1996 Gareeb Rally

Yadav's rally were contact point between him and his rural supporters. In 1996, a massive "rally of the poor" (Gareeb Rally) was organised by Janata Dal. Author Bela Bhatia, who was an eyewitness of this rally organised at Patna has mentioned that the poor people who assembled at Patna, were provided free commutation facility to become a part of this rally. There were numerous programmes organised by the office bearers of the Janata Dal for the rallyites. Bhatia has mentioned about the Trains, that were running on Arrah-Patna route, and carrying the rallyites to Patna. As per her description the Trains and Buses were carrying more pessengers than their capacity. Many of the people congregated at Patna either to lodge their grievances to the Chief Minister or in the hope of getting some monetary help. Bhatia describes an event being sponsored by Janata Dal legislator Shyam Rajak for the entertainment of rallyites, symbolising the acquaintance of the Chief Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav with the taste of his rural supporters.

Later at around 10 that night as I made my way from one part of the city to another, I was witness near the station to an incongruous sight, "a randi ka nach' (dance by a prostitute), one of the many similar programmes organised in the city ostensibly for the 'manoranjan' (recreation) of the rallyites. The shamiana was packed with villagers from far and near, the stage was set with green banners and under fluorescent lamps danced a young woman. A modern dancer with step-cut hair, a pink flare skirt swirling around her, as she danced with a mixture of western and traditional dance steps, to the tune of an alluring Magahi love song.

Elevation of grassroot workers to important position

In contrast to elections being based on money power, and the phenomenon of most of the candidates getting elected to houses of legislature in Bihar belonging to high income groups, RJD under Lalu Prasad Yadav has raised grassroot political workers from poor background to important positions in the politics of state. This is done occasionally to showcase the pro-poor stand of Yadav. In 2022, Yadav led election of a Dalit woman, Munni Rajak from Dhobi caste (washerman) to the seventy-five membered Bihar Legislative Council. Another example is of Ramvrikish Sada, the Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA from Alauli Assembly constituency, Khagaria district. Sada has even claimed that, he and his family worship Lalu Prasad Yadav besides Sabari, the deity of Musahars. Sada, who was associated with RJD for thirty years was reported to be the poorest MLA of Bihar in 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. He claimed that even money for running in election was provided to him by family of Lalu Prasad Yadav and he has just 70,000 in his bank account.

Corruption charges and conviction

Corruption cases

Lalu Prasad Yadav has been convicted and jailed in two scams. As of January 2018, he, his wife Rabri Devi, his sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, and his eldest daughter Misa Bharti were all facing charges in several other corruption cases.

1996 Fodder Scam – 1st case

Main article: Fodder scam

Yadav was an accused party and later convicted in the first Fodder Scam case of 1996. The case involved the siphoning off of about 4.50 billion ($111.85 million) from the animal husbandry department.

Several allegations of embezzlement from the animal husbandry department were tabled between 1990 and 1995. In January 1996, a raid conducted on Chaibasa treasury indicated the siphoning off of funds by non-existent companies. Yadav ordered an inquiry to probe the irregularities. However, after a public interest litigation, the Bihar High Court in March 1996 ordered the case to be handed over to the CBI. In June 1997, the CBI filed the charge sheet in the case and made Yadav an accused. The charge forced Yadav to resign from the office of Chief Minister, at which time he appointed his wife, Rabri Devi, to the office.

In 2001, the Supreme Court of India transferred the scam cases to newly formed court in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The trial began in 2002. In August 2013, Yadav tried to get the trial court judge transferred, but his plea was rejected by Supreme Court of India. Yadav has been an accused in many of the 53-odd cases filed. He has been remanded to custody on multiple occasions because of the number of cases. Over 64 people were convicted in the case. Yadav was first sent to "Judicial remand" (Bihar Military Police guest house, Patna) on 30 July 1997, for 134 days. On 28 October 1998, he was again sent to the same guest house for 73 days. When the Supreme Court took exception to his guest house stay, he had also moved to the Beur jail in Patna. On 26 November 2001, Yadav was again remanded, in a case related to the fodder scam. Yadav accused the NDA of creating a conspiracy against him. On 1 October 2004, the Supreme Court served a notice to Yadav and his wife in response to a petition which alleged that they have been interfering with the investigation.

Yadav, along with 44 other accused, was convicted on 30 September 2013 after being found guilty in fraudulent withdrawal of 37 crores (370 million) from Chaibasa treasury. Several other politicians, IAS officers were also convicted in the case. Immediately after the verdict was pronounced, Yadav was arrested and taken to Birsa Munda Central Jail, located at Ranchi. Yadav was disqualified as MP for six years. He was given a jail sentence of five years and a fine of 25 lakh (2.5 million).

He was released on bail from Birsa Munda Central Jail, after he completed the bail formalities in a Special CBI court, 2+1⁄2 months after his conviction.

1998 disproportionate assets case

In 1998, a disproportionate assets (DA) case arising out of the fodder scam was registered against Yadav and Rabri Devi. In April 2000, both were made co-accused in the charge-sheet and surrendered. While Rabri Devi got bail due to being Chief Minister of Bihar, Yadav was remanded in Beur jail for 11 days. They were acquitted in 2006. The Bihar government wanted to appeal against the acquittal but the Supreme Court in 2010 ruled that the state government can not challenge such rulings.

1996 Fodder Scam – 2nd case

Yadav was convicted and jailed in the second Fodder Scam case of 8.927 million on the same day 23 December 2017 when his daughter Misa Bharti was also charged by the Enforcement Directorate of having disproportionate assets. Yadav was convicted 23 December 2017 and sentenced on 6 January 2018 to 31⁄2 years' imprisonment and 1,000,000 fine for the fraudulent withdrawal of 8,900,000 from the Deoghar district treasury between 1990 and 1994.

1996 Fodder Scam – 3rd case

This case, pertaining to scamming 356.2 million scammed from the Chaibasa treasury of West Singhbhum district,

1996 Fodder Scam – 4th case

Yadav was convicted by the special CBI court in the fourth fodder scam case relating to alleged withdrawal of 3.13 crore from the Dumka district treasury over two decades ago. CBI Judge awarded him two separate sentences of seven years each under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Acts.

1996 Fodder Scam – 5th case

This case, pertaining to the scamming Yadav has been found guilty of illegal withdrawals of 139.35 crore from the Doranda treasury by a special CBI court in Jharkhand's Ranchi on 15 February 2022. In February 2022 A CBI court sentenced to five years jail term in fifth case and imposed a fine of 60 lakh.

2005 Indian Railway tender scam

2005 Indian Railway tender scam, investigated by the CBI, is the bribery and corruption case where Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family are charged for illegally receiving prime property from the bidder as a bribe for corruptly awarding the Railway tender during Yadav's tenure as Railway Minister. Transfer of these properties as bribe to Yadav and his children were disguised using the shell companies; for example, wife Rabri Devi and three children, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, received Saguna Mor Mall property worth 45 crore through a shell company named Delight Marketing (renamed as Lara properties), and another shell company AB Exports was used to transfer properties worth 40 crore for a price of 4 lakh to Lalu's other three children Tejashwi Yadav, Ragini and Chanda. This case spawned several other related but independent cases, such as disproportionate assets case as well as tax avoidance case by ED. Under the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act recipient of such benami properties can be imprisoned for up to 7 years and fined up to 25% fair market value, and convicted politicians are barred from contesting elections or holding elected position for six years.

2017 Delight Properties case

Investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), against Yadav, his wife, son Tejashwi, daughter Misa and others, arose from the alleged illegal proceeds of the 2005 Indian Railway tender scam. The I-T department issued summons for 12 June 2017 to Misa Bharti, over Benami land deals worth 10 billion (1,000 crores). Misa was officially charged by ED in disproportionate assets case on the same day her father was convicted again in the second fodder scam. After the CBI lodged an FIR on 5 July 2017, ED filed the Case Information Report (ECIR) on 27 July 2017 against Lalu, his wife Rabri, their younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and others in the railways tender corruption and ill-gotten property scam that happened during Lalu's tenure as the Railway Minister. Taking action against this scam, ED of Income Tax Department on 12 September 2017 attached more than 12 properties in Patna and Delhi including the plot for the mall in Patna, a farm house in Delhi and up-market land in Palam Vihar in Delhi. This includes the transfer of 450 million (45 crore) Seguna mor benami property transferred to Lalu's wife Rabri Devi and children Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav by using a shell company named Delight Properties, which was later renamed as Lara Properties. (Updated: 7 Jan 2018)

2017 AB Exports cases

AB Exports was a shell company used to transfer, as a bribe for the railway tender scam, 400 million (40 crore) benami property for a mere price of 400,000 to Lalu's 3 children Tejashwi Yadav, Ragini Yadav and Chanda Singh. ED has attached this property and booked the 3 accused children of Lalu. (Updated: 7 Jan 2018)

2017 Patna zoo soil scam

2017 Patna zoo soil scam is an allegation/case against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his sons Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav for the "gross irregularities" of selling soil from the construction of Tej Pratap's Saguna Mor mall basement. The bogus beautification scheme was for 90 lakh to Patna zoo without inviting any tenders when Tej Pratap was the minister of environment and forest in Bihar, a department that controls the zoo. The scam came to the light in April 2017, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in Patna High Court in October 2017, court ordered the Bihar government to furnish the details of investigation, following which the case was handed over to Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) department for the investigation under the Pollution Control Board Act, the Environment Protection Act and Wildlife Protection Act (1972) (update: 6 Jan 2018).

The Bihar government said that official procedure was duly followed in the case and prima facie no evidence of irregularity has come into light in zoo soil deal. (Updated: 31 May 2020)

Bail

Yadav was convicted in the controversial Fodder Scam, and was serving a term until 17 April 2021, when he was granted bail from the Jharkhand High Court in the corruption scandal.

Criticism

Corruption, nepotism and dynasticism

Yadav is one of the first noted politicians to lose parliamentary seat on being arrested in fodder scam as per Supreme Court decision banning convicted legislators to hold their posts. During his tenure as Chief Minister, Bihar's law and order was at lowest, kidnapping was on rise and private armies mushroomed. He was also criticized by opposition in the Shilpi-Gautam Murder case and the death of his daughter Ragini Yadav's friend, Abhishek Mishra, in mysterious circumstances.

Criticism on Yadavisation

Lalu Yadav's rule witnessed Yadav caste becoming assertive in the rural and urban landscape of Bihar, leading his opponents to coin the slogan of "Yadavisation" of Bihar's polity and administration. This fact was used by other political parties to dislodge his government on the charges of working for the benefit of a single caste group at the cost of various other backward communities. According to a report of Indian Human Development Survey (2011–12), Brahmins topped in average per capita income with 28,093, the other upper castes of Bihar which comprises Rajputs have an average per capita income of 20,655, closely followed by middle agrarian castes like Kushwahas and Kurmis earning 18,811 and 17,835 respectively as their average per capita income. In contrast, Yadavs' income is one of the lowest among OBCs at 12,314, which is slightly less than the rest of OBCs (12,617). Hence, despite the political mobilisation of backward castes in post mandal period, the upper-caste are still the highest income groups in Bihar. According to this report, the economic benefits of the Mandal politics could be seen as affecting only few backward castes of agrarian background leading to their upward mobilisation. The Yadavs hence transformed their assertiveness to the upward mobility in the politics only while the other "Backward Castes" gained momentum in the other fields, though still the upper-caste dominance was retained in upper echelon of bureaucracy.

Writings

Lalu Prasad has written his autobiography named Gopalganj to Raisina Road.

Filmography

In media

Books

  • A writer named Neena Jha has written a book on Lalu Prasad named Lalu Prasad, India's miracle.
  • Book named Laloo Prasad Yadav: A Charismatic Leader was published in 1996.
  • "The Making of Laloo Yadav, The Unmaking of Bihar", updated and reprinted under the title "Subaltern Sahib: Bihar and the Making of Laloo Yadav", is a book based on Lalu's life by Sankarshan Thakur.

Movies

  • Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav, the Bollywood movie was released in 2005. It was based on a girl named Padmshree, her boyfriend Laloo, her lawyer Prasad and Yadav was Lalu Prasad himself as a special appearance.
  • Upcoming Bhojpuri film Lalten is a biopic based on the life of Lalu Prasad.

See also

References

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Lok Sabha
Preceded byRamshekhar Prasad Singh Member of Parliament
for Chapra

1977–1980
Succeeded bySatya Deo Singh
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for Chapra

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