Rabri Devi
Encyclopedia
Rabri Devi served three terms as the Chief Minister, of Bihar
, India
, as a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal
political party, between 1997 and 2005. She is the wife of the Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav
, former Chief Minister of Bihar and former Railway Minister of India
.
.Rabri Devi has had schooling only from Gopalganj District.
had to quit as the Chief Minister of Bihar after the infamous Fodder scam
was revealed, but he was alleged to have been controlling the affairs by giving his wife the coveted post of the head of the state government. It was alleged that he continued to act and administer as a de facto chief minister with his wife being a ceremonial head. She became the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar on 25 July 1997. Her first term ended on 12 February 1999, when the state was briefly under president's rule. Her second term ran from 9 March 1999 to 3 March 2000. Her third (and longest) term began on 11 March 2000, and ended in 2005 , when her party suffered great losses in state elections. In 2010 assembly election she lost from both of her constituencies(Raghopur and Sonpur).
The appointment of Rabri Devi as the Chief Minister of Bihar came under severe satirical criticism and stiff opposition, because she was nearly illiterate and had little experience or interest in politics.
It has been claimed that she cannot understand the official documents that are read to her , and that the administration of Bihar was actually carried out by her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav
, even during the periods when he was in jail, convicted and sentenced on corruption charges. She and her husband dispute these allegations.
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, as a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal
Rashtriya Janata Dal
The Rashtriya Janata Dal is a political party in India, based in the state of Bihar. The party was founded in 1997 by Laloo Prasad Yadav. The party came about as a result of Lalu Prasad Yadav, ex-president of Janata Dal, being evicted by Sharad Yadav, the then president, on corruption charges ...
political party, between 1997 and 2005. She is the wife of the Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav
Lalu Prasad Yadav
Lalu Prasad Yadav is an Indian politician from Bihar. He was the Minister of Railways from 2004 to 2009 in the ruling United Progressive Alliance government, and the President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal political party...
, former Chief Minister of Bihar and former Railway Minister of India
Railway Minister of India
The Minister of Railways is the head of the Ministry of Railways and one of the cabinet ministers of the Government of India.-List of railway ministers:...
.
Early life
Rabri Devi was born to Sib Prasad Chaudhary of Salarkalan, Line Bazar, GopalganjGopalganj
Gopalganj may refer to:*Gopalganj District *Gopalganj, Bangladesh*Gopalganj District, India, is a district of the state of Bihar.*Gopalganj, Bihar, is a town and a municipality in and the headquarters of Gopalganj district in Bihar, India....
.Rabri Devi has had schooling only from Gopalganj District.
Political career
Rabri Devi's appointment as the Chief Minister of Bihar was considered as one of the most unexpected and awkward decisions of the entire Indian Political history because she was a traditional housewife and had no interest nor any prior experience in politics until then. The move fitted well with the needs of the government in power at the time as Lalu Prasad YadavLalu Prasad Yadav
Lalu Prasad Yadav is an Indian politician from Bihar. He was the Minister of Railways from 2004 to 2009 in the ruling United Progressive Alliance government, and the President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal political party...
had to quit as the Chief Minister of Bihar after the infamous Fodder scam
Fodder Scam
The Fodder Scam was a corruption scandal that involved the embezzlement of about from the government treasury of the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Among those implicated in the theft and arrested were then Chief Minister of Bihar, Laloo Prasad Yadav, as well as former Chief Minister, Jagannath...
was revealed, but he was alleged to have been controlling the affairs by giving his wife the coveted post of the head of the state government. It was alleged that he continued to act and administer as a de facto chief minister with his wife being a ceremonial head. She became the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar on 25 July 1997. Her first term ended on 12 February 1999, when the state was briefly under president's rule. Her second term ran from 9 March 1999 to 3 March 2000. Her third (and longest) term began on 11 March 2000, and ended in 2005 , when her party suffered great losses in state elections. In 2010 assembly election she lost from both of her constituencies(Raghopur and Sonpur).
The appointment of Rabri Devi as the Chief Minister of Bihar came under severe satirical criticism and stiff opposition, because she was nearly illiterate and had little experience or interest in politics.
It has been claimed that she cannot understand the official documents that are read to her , and that the administration of Bihar was actually carried out by her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav
Lalu Prasad Yadav
Lalu Prasad Yadav is an Indian politician from Bihar. He was the Minister of Railways from 2004 to 2009 in the ruling United Progressive Alliance government, and the President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal political party...
, even during the periods when he was in jail, convicted and sentenced on corruption charges. She and her husband dispute these allegations.