Fodder scam and a masterstroke
In 1996, Lalu's named cropped up in a major scam unearthed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Millions of rupees had been embezzled from treasuries against the account of Bihar's animal husbandry department.
The Opposition had finally found an issue to corner Lalu.
The Janata Dal was divided, and Lalu formed his own party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
When charges were framed against him in the fodder scam, it appeared as if Bihar's king had finally met his Waterloo.
But in a political masterstroke, Lalu resigned as chief minister, and instead installed his wife and mother of his nine children, Rabri Devi (seen serving Lalu in the picture), as chief minister.
He spent 103 days in custody, but he had already transferred power from the Bihar secretariat to his 1, Anne Marg bungalow in Patna, giving the phrase 'kitchen cabinet' a whole new meaning.
Also Read:
Anti-incumbency strikes, yet again