Lalu Yadav the turnaround man

What are the highlights of Lalu Yadav’s political career?

Lalu Yadav became the Railway Minister in the 2004 UPA government, banned plastic cups for serving tea and replaced them earthen cups to generate rural employment. He turned around a loss-making Indian Railways into a profit-making one – Rs 250 billion ($5.2 billion) – in four years, which attracted the attention of  Harvard, Wharton and the Ivy League business schools.

 

Where and when was he born?

Born on June 11, 1948, in Phulwaria, Bihar, to Kundan Rai and Marachhiya Devi, he is the second of his parent’s six sons.

What were some of the significant events in his political career?

He entered politics during his student days at Patna University, and was elected a member of the Lok Sabha in 1977. He was just 29, and the youngest MP.

In 1996, Yadav was accused in the “Fodder Scam” in which about Rs.9.50 billion ($211.85 million) were siphoned off from the animal husbandry department, albeit the probe itself was ordered by him.

 

Interesting facts:

• 1977: Elected to the 6th Lok Sabha at the age of 29.
• 1980–1989: Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly (two terms).
• 1989: Becomes the leader of Opposition, Bihar Legislative Assembly, re-elected to the 9th Lok Sabha (2nd term).
• 1990–1995: Member of the Bihar Legislative Council.
• 1990–1997: Chief Minister of Bihar.
• 1995–1998: Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
• 1996: Lalu’s name springs up in a major scam.
• 1997: parts with the Janata Dal and forms the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
• 1998: Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (3rd term).
• 2004: Re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha (4th term). Appointed Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Railways. In 2004, he was elected to the Lok Sabha with his party emerging as a key member of the UPA (United Peoples’ Alliance).
• 2009: Re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha (5th term).
• Disqualified as MP because of his conviction in the fodder scam.
• Yadav married Rabri Devi on June 1, 1973, and have seven daughters and two sons.