# Rabri Devi

Rabri Devi (Devanagri: राबड़ी देवी, IAST: rābar̤ī devī Sanskrit pronunciation:) is an Indian politician who formerly served 3 terms as the chief minister of Bihar, the first and only woman till date to have held the office. She is a Member (MLC) of Bihar Legislative Council and currently serving as the leader of the opposition in Bihar Legislative Council.
She is married to Indian politician Lalu Prasad, former chief minister of Bihar (1990–1997). Yadav previously served as a member of Bihar Legislative Assembly (MLA) and she formerly served as the leader of the opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly.

## Early life and education

Rabri was born in 1959 in Salar Kalan village, located near Mirganj in the Gopalganj district of Bihar. However, she has stated in affidavits submitted for elections that her birth year is as early as 1953. Her parents are Sib Prasad Chaudhary and Maharjia Devi. She is named after an Indian sweet as per a custom in her family. Her 3 sisters are similarly named Jalebi, Rasgulla and Paan.
She has studied only up to the fifth standard at a local school in her village. Her parents were hesitant to send their daughters to schools located far away, unlike her brothers, who received proper education. As a result, none of her sisters is educated. Prabhunath Yadav, Subhash Prasad Yadav and Sadhu Yadav are her three real brothers.

## Political career

Rabri Devi became the first female Chief Minister of Bihar on 25 July 1997, after her husband, Lalu Prasad, was forced to resign following the arrest warrant issued against him in corruption charges relating to the Fodder scam ('Chaara Ghotala', as known locally). She went on to rule the state till 2005 (She was also the last chief minister of Undivided Bihar).
Devi was elected thrice to Bihar Vidhan Sabha from Raghopur seat. In 2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, Devi contested from two seats: Raghopur and Sonpur assembly seats, but lost both in an election where the Rashtriya Janata Dal faced defeat, winning only 22 seats.
She contested from Saran in 2014 Lok Sabha election but lost to Rajiv Pratap Rudy of BJP.
Rabri Devi was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council.

## Criticism

Rabri Devi's appointment as the chief minister of Bihar is considered one of the most unexpected and awkward decisions in Indian political history, as she was a traditional housewife and had no interest nor any prior experience in politics. She came under severe satirical criticism and stiff opposition, because of her illiteracy and inexperience.

## Personal life and family

Rabri Devi married Lalu Prasad on 1 June 1973 at the age of 14 years, in a child marriage, and they went on to have seven daughters and then 2 sons. Her husband, Lalu also demanded ₹5000 as dowry from her father, which was fulfilled.
* eldest daughter: Misa Bharti
* 2nd daughter: Rohini Acharya Yadav
* 3rd daughter: Chanda Yadav
* 4th daughter: Ragini Yadav - married to Rahul Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader
* 5th daughter: Hema Yadav
* 6th daughter: Anushka Yadav (Dhannu) - married to Chiranjeev Rao
* youngest daughter: Raj Lakshmi Yadav - married to Tej Pratap Singh Yadav
* elder son: Tej Pratap Yadav
* younger son: Tejashwi Yadav
Note: Rahul Yadav is son of Jitendra Yadav, former MLC from the Samajwadi Party. Jitendra is the nephew of former MP D. P. Yadav.

## Positions held

Rabri Devi has been elected 3 times as MLA and 4 times as MLC.
| # | From | To | Position | Party |
| 1. | 1997 | 2000 | MLC (1st term) in Bihar Legislative Council Chief Minister (1st & 2nd term) in Government of Bihar | RJD |
| 2. | 2000 | 2005 | MLA (1st term) from Raghopur (by-poll) Chief Minister (3rd term) in Government of Bihar | RJD |
| 3. | Feb 2005 | Oct 2005 | MLA (2nd term) from Raghopur | RJD |
| 4. | 2005 | 2010 | MLA (3rd term) from Raghopur Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly (1st term) | RJD |
| 5. | 2012 | 2018 | MLC (2nd term) in Bihar Legislative Council | RJD |
| 6. | 2018 | 2024 | MLC (3rd term) in Bihar Legislative Council Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Council (1st & 2nd term) | RJD |
| 7. | 2024 | Present | MLC (4th term) in Bihar Legislative Council Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Council (3rd term) | RJD |