Lalu Prasad Yadav’s book, Gopalganj to Raisina can stir a storm in Indian politics

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Kolkata: The autobiography of former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav—Gopalganj to Raisina which can stir a storm in the Indian politics is all set to get public. By Sunday the book will be available across India, however, there will be no formal launch for it.

Senior journalist Nalin Verma has co-authored the book with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National President, who is now in jail in connection with fodder scam.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, the 70-year-old politician is one of the most colourful personalities in Indian politics.

Lalu Prasad is among the few politicians, who has been a member of all four houses of Indian political system—Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Assembly and Vidhan Parishad. He was the Chief Minister of Bihar, one of the most significant states of India, politically, for almost 10 years, and the Railway Minister of India.

The book, a political potboiler will reveal, Lalu Prasad’s role during the Emergency, Mandal Commission implementation, the arrest of LK Advani during the Rath Yatra, his acceptance of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister in 2004 and his relationship with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – a friend turned foe.

According to the book, Lalu Prasad has mentioned in it that Nitish Kumar had sent Prashant Kishor, a political strategist and Janata Dal (United)’s Vice President to meet him, five times, as Nitish wants to return back to the Mahagathbandhan. But RJD supremo refused it saying, he has lost faith on Nitish.

There are many such untold incidents related to Lalu Prasad in his autobiography. The timing for the book release (amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Election) is also significant. Interestingly, a biopic on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be released around this time.

The two sentences mentioned in the press communiqué released by the publisher Rupa Publications summarize the entire book.

“He is brutally honest about what he has won and what he has lost, about friends and foes within his party as well as outside.”

And, “This is more than just an utterly absorbing account; it is history with a vision. It reaffirms your faith in the promise of democracy, equality and justice in India.”

 

Nalin Verma is also Patron of eNewsroom.

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