Rabri Devi

Rabri Devi
27th, 28th & 30th Chief Minister of Bihar
In office 11 March 2000 – 6 March 2005
Preceded by	Nitish Kumar
Succeeded by	President's rule
In office 9 March 1999 – 2 March 2000
Preceded by	President's rule
Succeeded by	Nitish Kumar
In office 25 July 1997 – 11 February 1999
Preceded by	Lalu Prasad Yadav
Succeeded by	President's rule
Personal details
Born	Gopalganj, Bihar
Political party	RJD
Spouse(s)	Lalu Prasad Yadav
Residence	Patna
Religion	Hindu

Rabri Devi (born 1959) 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, who was later convicted and jailed for embezzlement.^[1] Devi has subsequently been a Member of the Legislative Council for Bihar Vidhan Parishad.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

Devi's appointment as the Chief Minister of Bihar was considered as one of the most unexpected and awkward decisions^{[citation needed]} of the entire Indian political history because she was a traditional housewife and had no interest nor any prior experience in politics until then.^{[citation needed]} The move fitted well with the needs of the government in power at the time as Lalu Prasad Yadav had to quit as the Chief Minister of Bihar after the 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.^{[citation needed]} It was alleged that he continued to act and administer as a de facto chief minister with his wife being a ceremonial head.^{[citation needed]} She became the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar on 25 July 1997.^[2]

Criticism

The appointment of Rabri Devi as the Chief Minister of Bihar came under severe satirical criticism and stiff opposition, because she was nearly illiterate^[3][4] and had little experience or interest in politics.^[5]

Personal life

Rabri Devi married Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1973^[2] at the age of 14 and having nine children that are, 7 girls and 2 boys.

References

1. ↑ India corruption: Laloo Prasad Yadav jailed for five years - BBC News, 3 Oct 2013
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Rabri Devi". Hindustan Times. 7 February 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. 
3. ↑ "'I am not subordinate to Lalooji'", Rediff, February 22, 2000
4. ↑ "Profile: Laloo Prasad Yadav", BBC
5. ↑ "'My name will be there on the pages of history'", Rediff, February 23, 2000