Video Editor: Mohd. Irshad Alam
When it comes to Lalu, usually the first words that you associate with him are –humour, jokes and riddles. But if you were to look at him from a critical point of view then you can say casteism, dynasty politics and a fighter against communalism. But to understand the eccentricity of this person called Lalu Prasad Yadav, we need to delve deep into his legacy.
In October 1990, when chants of 'Mandir Wahi Banayenge' were reverberating across the country. The-then BJP President Lal Krishna Advani's 'Rathyatra' had created a stir in the country, disrupting peace and harmony as the administration stood helpless. But on 23 October 1990, as the 'Rathyatra' was passing through Bihar's Samastipur, it was stopped by a 42-year-old chief minister – Lalu Prasad Yadav. Advani was arrested and Lalu became a champion of secular politics overnight.
He started his political career as a student leader. Jay Prakash Narayan, Raj Narayan, Karpuri Thakur and Satyendra Narayan Sinha were his mentors who taught him the ABC of politics. He spent a lot of months in jail when he was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act or ‘MISA’. This was also when his eldest daughter was born, and that’s how she was named.
Lalu Yadav had won himself a Parliament seat by winning the LS polls at the age of 29. He would talk about 'Sampoorna Kranti' in his rallies during 1974. He became Bihar's chief minister for the first time on 10 March 1990. He became chief minister for the second time in 1995. In 1997, he left the Janata Dal to form his own party Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD.
When Lalu was at his peak during the 90s, law and order had no place in Bihar. Whatever Lalu said was the new law. A kidnapping and ransom industry had been established in Bihar. His rule was often referred to as ‘Jangalraj’. To cope with the upper caste votes, he capitalised on the Muslim and Yadav votes.
When he was accused in the fodder scam, while still the CM, in 1997, he gave the seat of CM to wife Rabri Devi and surprised everyone. Lalu Yadav has been the Chief Minister of Bihar and the rail minister of the country. Currently, he is the president of Bihar's largest party, the RJD.
He has been punished by the CBI's special court for the fodder scam. He is over 70 years old now, and he has been sentenced to over 25 years of prison. Because of his deteriorating health, he has been admitted to a government hospital in Ranchi, where he can meet only 3 people in a week.
Lalu's party was completely wiped out in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The alliance formed between the RJD, the Congress and other parties managed to win just one seat.
Imprisonment, deteriorating health and depleting political presence have put a big question mark behind Lalu's return to politics.
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