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Lalu Prasad: down, but not out

It's high time to play M-Y cards right to checkmate opponents

Lalu Prasad Yadav
BS Reporter New Delhi
Last Updated : Mar 21 2014 | 11:01 PM IST
Probably, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad is one of the India’s most colourful politicians. Prasad,  who can use his rustic charm and wit to woo the rural masses, has lost much of his political clout in the last few years.

As a politician, Yadav was groomed by socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan, who led a student movement in the early 1970s.
 
In 1997, he formed the RJD, after breaking away from the Janata Dal.
 
Prasad first became chief minister in 1990 and served till 1995. His second stint was from 1995 to 1997. The multi-crore fodder scam led to his resignation but led Prasad's wife Rabri Devi to take charge as Chief Minister in spite of several objections.

Last year, Prasad was convicted in the fodder scam case. Bihar was been criticised for its lawlessness under Prasad’s tenure as Chief Minister. It was termed as ‘jungle raj’.
 

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His biggest achievement came as Union Railways Minister when he turned around the Indian Railways fortunes. He showed superb imagination in turning around the bankrupt Railways and was credited of posting to it a surplus of about Rs 20,000 crore.
 
The social combination of the M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) has enabled Prasad to rule the state for 15 years. Together, they contribute about 30% of the electorate in the state.

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First Published: Mar 21 2014 | 7:10 PM IST

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