From rural roots to political power: Lalu Prasad Yadav turns 75; here's a look at his career

Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav celebrates his 75th birthday this year. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo, has a long and eventful political career spanning over four decades. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Bihar's Chhapra seat (now called Saran) in 1977, marking the beginning of his journey in the legislature. Despite facing electoral defeats, Lalu Prasad Yadav remained a prominent figure in politics.

Throughout his career, Lalu Prasad Yadav held various positions, including being an MLA, a chief minister, and a member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He faced legal challenges when he had to resign as Bihar's chief minister in 1997 due to his indictment in fodder scam cases. However, his popularity among voters remained intact, and he continued to exert influence on Bihar's political landscape.

Here's a timeline, which provides a glimpse of Lalu Prasad Yadav's political career

1977: He was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha at the age of 29 in 1977, marking the beginning of his political career

1980: He lost the Chhapra seat in the Lok Sabha elections but was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Sonepur, an assembly segment of Chhapra.

1985: Lalu Prasad Yadav was re-elected as an MLA from Sonepur.

1989: He was elected to the Lok Sabha again from Chhapra. However, he resigned from his Lok Sabha seat to become the Chief Minister of Bihar.

1990: Lalu Prasad Yadav assumed the position of Bihar's Chief Minister.

1990: He ordered the arrest of BJP leader L. K. Advani during the Ram Rath Yatra to Ayodhya, aiming to maintain communal peace in the state after a previous wave of violence in 1989.

1993: As the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1993, he implemented a pro-English policy for schools.

1997: Lalu Prasad Yadav resigned as Chief Minister due to his indictment in various fodder scam cases. His wife, Rabri Devi, took over as the Chief Minister.

1998: Lalu Prasad Yadav won the Lok Sabha elections from Madhepura constituency, defeating Sharad Yadav.

1999: He lost the Lok Sabha seat to Sharad Yadav but soon was elected to the Rajya Sabha.

2004: Lalu Prasad Yadav was elected to the Lok Sabha from both Chhapra and Madhepura constituencies. He joined Manmohan Singh's government at the Centre as the Minister of Railways.

2009: He won the Lok Sabha elections from Saran constituency.

2013: Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted for the first time in fodder scam cases and lost his membership in the Lok Sabha. He was barred from contesting elections.

2015: Despite being in jail, Lalu Prasad Yadav formed a grand alliance with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and Congress Party in Bihar. The alliance successfully prevented Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from forming a government in the state.

2017: Nitish Kumar returned to the BJP, and Lalu Prasad Yadav was jailed in early 2018.

2019: In the Lok Sabha elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP won 39 seats in Bihar, while Lalu Prasad Yadav's party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was unable to contest due to his imprisonment.

2020: The RJD, led by Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav, performed well in the Bihar Assembly elections, emerging as the single largest party with 75 MLAs. However, the BJP formed a government in alliance with other parties.

Lalu Prasad Yadav's political career has been marked by his strong influence in Bihar politics, his involvement in the fodder scam cases, and his ability to connect with the masses, particularly those from backward classes and deprived sections of society.

Here are some interesting facts about Lalu Prasad Yadav, which highlight his personal life

1948: Lalu Prasad Yadav, the second son among his parents' six sons, was born in Phulwariya village situated on the Gopalganj-Kushinagar highway NH-27 in Gopalganj district of Bihar. His parents, Kundan Ray and Marachhiya Devi, raised him in the village where he attended a local middle school. Later, Lalu moved to Patna, the capital city of Bihar, along with his elder brother.

Nicknamed "Mitti ka Gaurav" or Pride of the Soil, Lalu Prasad Yadav is highly regarded in Bihar.

Lalu and his wife, Rabri Devi, have seven children, including Tej Pratap Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Misa Bharti, who have also entered politics.

Lalu Prasad Yadav was often portrayed as a champion of social justice in Bihar's school textbooks, with articles and poems praising him included in primary school curriculum.

In his book "Gopalganj to Raisina: My Political Journey," Lalu mentioned that one of his first declarations as chief minister was, "Chahey mera raj rahega ya jayega, hum dangaiyon ko chhodengein nahin" (Whether my government survives or not, I will not spare the rioters).