Lalu Prasad Yadav is a prolific name in the history of Indian politics. Politician, master strategist, kingmaker are few of the facets of his illustrious yet colourful life of the man who heads the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party. As Lalu Prasad Yadav turns 71 today, we trace his journey in pictures. (All Pictures Courtesy/Facebook, and Twitter Lalu Prasad Yadav)
Updated On: 2019-06-11 11:19 AM IST
Politician, master strategist and a family man - it has been an illustrious career thus far for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. A very prominent face in the house of Indian parliament and politics, Lalu Prasad Yadav is a name that doesn't need any introduction. Lalu was active into politics from an early age, and started his political career as a student leader and went on to become the undisputed kingmaker of Indian politics.
Lalu's journey from becoming one of India's youngest Lok Sabha members to holding high profile portfolios at the centre, Lalu has emerged as one of the most prominent leaders in the country.
In pic: A young Lalu Prasad Yadav looks poised and poignant as an aspiring politician.
Lalu Prasad Yadav was born on June 11, 1948, to Kundan Rai and Marachhiya Devi. Born in a poor peasant family in Phulwaria, Gopalganj, Llau was destined to do great things in life. In his childhood, Lalu attended a local middle school and later on moved to Patna with his elder brother.
After completing his degree in Bachelor of Laws and a Master in Political Science from B. N. College of Patna University, Lalu Prasad Yadav worked as a clerk in Bihar Veterinary College where his elder brother also worked as a peon.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav gets a haircut on a Sunday. While sharing the picture with his followers Llau wrote: Sunday Day and shaving. This is a pure desi style of a milkman. Very original.
Lalu Prasad Yadav married Rabri Devi on June 1, 1973, through an arranged marriage. At the time of their marriage, Lalu was 25-year-old while Rabri Devi was only 17. The couple has 9 children; two sons and seven daughters. While Lalu's wife's name is While 'Rabri Devi', the names of his sisters-in-law's are Jalebi, Raasgulla, and Paan.
Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Misa Bharti was named by none other than the torchbearer of Janata Party movement Jaiprakash Narayan
Lalu Prasad Yadav took baby steps in politics during his college days when he was elected as the President of Patna University Students Union (PUSU) in 1973 and the General Secretary in the year 1970. Since then, there was no turning back for the son of the soil and pride of Bihar.
A lawyer by profession, Lalu Prasad Yadav contested the 9th Lok Sabha elections on Janata Party ticket in 1977 and won the elections. Back then, Lalu was the youngest member of the Parliament of his times as he was only 29 when he was elected to the Lower House.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav shares a warm hug with Nitish Kumar.
In 1990, Janata Dal came to power and Lalu Prasad Yadav was elected as the Chief Minister of Bihar. From 1990 to 1997, Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi ruled the state as Chief Ministers of Bihar. One of the biggest highlights of his tenure as a CM was the arrest of LK Advani. Lalu got Advani arrested on September 23, 1990, during the Rath Yatra to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir movement.
Lalu Prasad Yadav's post as CM of Bihar was cut short when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued an arrest warrant on his name in the Fodder Scam. Eventually, Yadav resigned as Bihar CM and his wife Rabri Devi took over as the Chief Minister of Bihar. Later, he left Janata Dal and formed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) which grew as a local party to be the kingmaker in the upcoming elections.
Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi ruled the state of Bihar for 15 long years from 1990 to 2005. Amidst all this, Lalu also served in the Rajya Sabha until 2004. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Lalu Prasad Yadav's party won 21 seats and became the second-largest member of the UPA 1 after the Congress party. The master politician became the Railway Minister under Dr, Manmohan Singh's government.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav interacts with Yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
Having won 21 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Lalu Prasad Yadav proved to be a kingmaker and steered clear the ship for the Congress party to form the government in 2004 under Dr. Manmohan Singh. Lalu Prasad Yadav served as the Minister of Railways from 2004 to 2009.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav plays the ball on the front foot during a cricket match.
One of the most notable achievements of Lalu Prasad Yadav's political career was the financial turnaround of the Indian Railways. As a Railway Minister, Lalu successfully led the Indian Railways from being mired in losses to making a surplus of nearly Rs 90,000 crores. The drastic turnaround of Indian Railways during his tenure became a subject of study and it was introduced as a case study by the prestigious Indian Institute of Management.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav with Hema Malin and Shatrughan Sinha.
Such was his aura and personality that Lalu Prasad Yadav was invited by eight Ivy League schools for lectures. He addressed over a hundred students from Harvard, Wharton, and others in Hindi. The way Lalu turned the fortunes of Indian Railways, he was called the Management Guru for scripting the revival of Indian Railways.
There is a reason why Lalu Prasad Yadav is called a management guru and his post aptly describes it. While sharing a picture of himself milking a cow, Lalu wrote: If U don't milk d cow fully, it falls sick. That's what I did with Indian Railway & gave thousands of Crores profit to it.
While Lalu Prasad Yadav reigned as Railway Minister, his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal started facing a drubbing in state politics. Such was the beating that RJD which won 21 seats in 2004, won only 4 sets in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. On October 3, 2013, Lalu was convicted in the Fodder Scam case worth Rs over 900 crores and was sentenced to five years in prison. Lalu was also disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha. In 2018, Lalu was convicted in a third fodder scam case and received a five-year sentence.
Lalu Prasad Yadav has also appeared on the big screen. He made a guest appearance in a movie called 'PADMASHREE LALU PRASAD YADAV' which was directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav with Kanhaiya Kumar.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav celebrates the festival of Chhath Puja with his family at his residence in Bihar.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav hands over his Rajyasabha MP certificate to Ram Jethmalani, Senior Advocate and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.
In pic: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav enjoys the game of cricket between India and Pakistan. He captions the pic: Rain God bowling another spell of rain. We need rain here in India as its extreme hot out here and very important for the next crop season. #INDvPAK
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav with P. Chidambaram, late M. Karunanidhi, late Madhavrao Scindia and N. Chandrababu Naidu.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav recalls 'Black and White Cinema' while getting interviewed by Madari fame actor Irrfan Khan in 2016.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav has a candid conversation with Noble Peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi on child labour and trafficking.
In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav attends the oath-taking ceremony of West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee.
