Rabri Devi (Devanagri: राबड़ी देवी, 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. 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. As a result, none of her sisters got any formal education. Prabhunath Yadav, Subhash Prasad Yadav and Sadhu Yadav are her three brothers.

Political career

Devi became the first female Chief Minister of Bihar on 25 July 1997, after her husband, incumbent chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, was forced to resign following the arrest warrant issued against him in corruption charges relating to the Fodder scam. Her appointment as the chief minister of Bihar is considered one of the most unexpected decisions

She went on to rule the state until 2005. She was also the last chief minister of undivided Bihar.

thumb|Bihar CM Devi presents Rs.10 crore cheque to Prime Minister of the time, [[Manmohan Singh for the national relief fund]]

Devi was elected thrice to the Bihar Vidhan Sabha from the Raghopur seat. In the 2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, Devi contested from two seats: Raghopur and Sonpur, 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.

Devi was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council.

Rabri Devi is an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Bihar, known for becoming the first woman to hold the office in the state. Her political journey is often described as unique, as she rose from being a homemaker to leading one of India’s largest states.

She assumed office as Chief Minister on 25 July 1997, marking a historic moment in Bihar’s political history. Despite having no prior political experience, she gradually adapted to administrative responsibilities and governance. Over time, she developed her political understanding and played an active role in decision-making and public affairs.

Rabri Devi later led her party to electoral success in the 2000 Bihar Assembly elections and completed a full term as Chief Minister, reflecting her growing political maturity and leadership. She is also known for maintaining a simple and grounded public image while continuing to remain active in Bihar politics as a senior leader.

Personal life and family

Rabri Devi married Lalu Prasad on 1 June 1973 at the age of 18 years, During her wedding, Lalu went on to demand an additional ₹5,000 as dowry from her father, which was eventually fulfilled.

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| 7. || 2024 || Present ||

  • MLC (4th term) in Bihar Legislative Council
  • Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Council (3rd term)

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References

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