In 1977, at the age of 29, Lalu Prasad Yadav made history by getting 85.97% votes from Chhapra seat. This is a record in Indian politics that has not broken till date. Know how this young leader came out of JP movement became the biggest face of Bihar politics.
Today, when 77 -year -old Lalu Prasad Yadav is making a strategy of Bihar Assembly Election 2025 as the National President of Rashtriya Janata Dal, the historic day when a young leader of just 29 years made a record in Indian politics which is unwavering till date. Lalu Prasad Yadav was the name of that youth who got 85.97% votes from Chhapra seat (present Saran) in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections.
JP movement star
Born on 11 June 1948 in an ordinary family in Gopalganj, the political journey of Lalu Prasad Yadav began with the student movement of Patna University. In 1974, when Jayaprakash Narayan gave the slogan of ‘Sampoorna Revolution’ against Indira Gandhi’s rule, student union leader Lalu Yadav became one of the most vocal faces of that movement at Patna University.
Jayaprakash Narayan himself was also impressed by Lalu’s passion and oratory art during the JP movement. Lalu’s enthusiasm did not diminish even during his arrest in the student movement. When democracy was dying in the dark days of Emergency, only young leaders like Lalu emerged as a ray of hope.
First election, first awesome
When the Lok Sabha elections were held in 1977 after the Emergency was held, only 29 -year -old Lalu Yadav decided to contest from Chhapra seat. This young leader, who landed on the Bharatiya Lok Dal ticket, was standing in front of this young leader Ram Shekhar Prasad Singh. But the results that came, became one of the most miraculous results of Indian electoral history. Chhapra seat had a total of 6,58,829 registered voters and 73.89% voting. Out of these 4,83,198 votes, Lalu Yadav received 4,15,409 votes – ie 85.97%of the total votes.
Record rain
- This victory was not just a victory, but a treasure of many records
- The youngest MP: Among the youngest members to reach Parliament at the age of 29
- Custom vote percentage: 85.97% vote – a figure that is not broken till date
- Victory difference: Difference of more than 77% from the nearest rival
Condition of rivals
The most interesting thing was that all the other candidates had secured only 14% of the votes. In which Congress candidate got only 8.61% and CPI got 4.39% votes. This was the most influential performance of one of the candidates in the history of Indian democracy.
Congress wiped out in Bihar
In this 1977 election, not only Lalu showed personal wonders, but the Janata Party alliance in the whole of Bihar created history. Janata Party and allies won all 54 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Congress did not get a single seat in the account. This was a reflection of public anger against the Emergency. At the national level, the Congress got only 189 seats while the Janata Party alliance won 345 seats. Morarji Desai became Prime Minister and young MPs like Lalu added new enthusiasm in Delhi politics.
Father of my equation
After reaching Parliament, Lalu started making his own political identity. When there was a partition in the Janata Party in 1980, Lalu supported the Janata Dal under the leadership of VP Singh. From here, he laid the foundation of his famous ‘My Equation’ (Muslim-Yadav coalition). The magic of this strategy was shown in the 1990 Bihar assembly elections, when the Janata Dal got a strong majority and Lalu became the Chief Minister of Bihar. From 1990 to 1997, he took over as the Chief Minister and completely changed the politics of Bihar.
Fodder scam round
After being caught in the fodder scam in 1997, Lalu left the Janata Dal and formed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He started a new political tradition by making his wife Rabri Devi the Chief Minister. From 2004 to 2009, he was also a Railway Minister in the UPA government at the Center and showed the wonder of bringing the Railways in profit. Lalu last contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2009. Lalu, who landed from two seats, won from Saran but lost to Pataliputra. After the fodder scam sentence in 2013, he was banned to contest elections.
From party president to king maker
Today in 2025 Lalu Prasad Yadav plays a separate role as the National President of RJD. He is the mastermind of the party’s strategy. By making Tejashwi Yadav a Chief Ministerial candidate, he has prepared a way to carry forward his political legacy. The young leader who got 85% votes 47 years ago is still the same passion. Now they do not get into the field, but every step of the grand alliance strategy takes their impression.