Lalu Prasad Yadav (born 1948)

Lalu Prasad Yadav, also known as Lalu Yadav, is a prominent Indian politician and the founder of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party. He was born on June 11, 1948, in the Phulwaria village of Bihar, India. Lalu Yadav has been a major political figure in the state of Bihar, serving as the Chief Minister of Bihar for three consecutive terms from 1990 to 2005. In this article, we will discuss Lalu Prasad Yadav's life, career, controversies, and legacy.

Early Life and Education

Lalu Yadav was born to Kundan Rai and Marachhiya Devi in a small village in Bihar. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a housewife. Lalu Yadav was the youngest among six siblings. He completed his primary education in his village and then went to Patna for further studies.

Lalu Yadav completed his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the Patna University. He was active in student politics during his college days and became the General Secretary of the Patna University Students Union in 1971.

Political Career

Lalu Yadav's political career began in 1977 when he became a member of the Janata Party. He was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1980 from the Chhapra constituency. He later joined the Congress party in 1984 and became the President of the Bihar Youth Congress.

In 1989, Lalu Yadav formed the Janata Dal party in Bihar, which was a coalition of various political parties. The party won the assembly elections in 1990, and Lalu Yadav became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time. He was re-elected as Chief Minister in 1995 and 2000.

Lalu Yadav's tenure as the Chief Minister of Bihar was marked by several controversial decisions, including the reservation of 27% of government jobs and educational institutions for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani during his Rath Yatra in 1990.

In 1997, Lalu Yadav was implicated in the Fodder Scam, a corruption scandal involving the embezzlement of government funds meant for the purchase of cattle feed. He was accused of siphoning off more than Rs. 950 crore (approximately $200 million) from the state treasury during his tenure as Chief Minister. He resigned from his post in 1997 but continued to exert significant influence over the state's politics.

In 1998, Lalu Yadav was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Madhepura constituency. He was re-elected as an MP from the same constituency in 1999 and 2004.

In 1999, Lalu Yadav formed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party, which became a dominant political force in Bihar. The RJD won the assembly elections in 2005, and Lalu Yadav became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the third time. He was in power till 2005 when he was defeated in the assembly elections by the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance.

Controversies

Lalu Yadav has been embroiled in several controversies throughout his political career. The Fodder Scam is perhaps the most significant controversy he has been involved in. He was arrested in 1997 in connection with the scam and spent several months in jail. In 2013, he was convicted in another fodder scam case and was sentenced to five years in prison.

In 2008, Lalu Yadav was accused of amassing disproportionate assets.