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{{Short description|Leader of Opposition in Bihar Vidhan Parishad, Indian politician}}
{{short description|Indian politician (born 1959)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name           = Rabri Devi Yadav
| name         = Rabri Devi
| image           = Rabri Devi presenting a cheque for Rs. 10 crore on behalf of the State Government to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, in New Delhi on January 04, 2005 (cropped).jpg
| image         = Rabri Devi presenting a cheque for Rs. 10 crore on behalf of the State Government to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, in New Delhi on January 04, 2005 (cropped).jpg
| image_size     =  
| image_size   = 220px
| caption         =
| caption       = Devi in 2005
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1956|1|1|df=y}}<ref name="oneindia" />
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|01|01}}
| birth_place     = [[Gopalganj, Bihar|Gopalganj]], [[Bihar]], [[India]]<ref name="oneindia" />
| birth_place   = [[Gopalganj district, India|Salar Kalan]], [[Bihar]], India
| residence      = [[Patna]]
| death_date   =  
| death_date     =  
| death_place   =  
| death_place     =
| office       = [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council|Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Council]]
| office         = [[Bihar Legislative Council|Leader of Opposition in Bihar Vidhan Parishad]]
| term_start   = 14 February 2024
| term_start     = 13 April 2022
| leader1      = Nitish Kumar
| term_end        =  
| predecessor   = [[Hari Sahni]]
| predecessor     =
| predecessor1  = ''Herself''
| office1        = [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly|Leader of Opposition<br>Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| successor1    = [[Samrat Choudhary]]
| term_start1    = 20 Nov 2005
| predecessor2  = [[Sushil Kumar Modi]]
| term_end1      = 23 Dec 2010
| successor2    = ''Herself''
| predecessor1    = [[Upendra Kushwaha]]
| office6      = [[Member of Legislative Council|Member]] of [[Bihar Legislative Council]]
| successor1      = [[Abdul Bari Siddiqui]]
| term_start6  = 7 May 2012
| office2        =21st [[Chief Minister of Bihar]]
| office8      = 18th [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly|Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start2     = 11 March 2000
| term_start8  = 20 November 2005
| term_end2      = 6 March 2005
| term_end8    = 23 December 2010
| governor2      = • [[V. C. Pande]]<br> • [[M R Jois]]<br>• [[Ved Prakash Marwah]]  ''(acting)'' <br> • [[Buta Singh]]<br> • [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]]
| predecessor8  = [[Upendra Kushwaha]]
| predecessor2    = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| successor8    = [[Abdul Bari Siddiqui]]
| successor2      = [[President's rule]]
| office3      = 21st [[Chief Minister of Bihar]]
| term_start3     = 9 March 1999
| governor3     = [[V. C. Pande]]<br/>[[M. Rama Jois]]<br/>[[Buta Singh]]
| term_end3      = 2 March 2000
| term_start3  = 11 March 2000
| governor3      = [[Sunder Singh Bhandari]]
| term_end3    = 6 March 2005
| predecessor3   = [[President's rule]]
| predecessor3  = Nitish Kumar
| successor3      = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| successor3    = [[President's rule]]
| term_start4    = 25 July 1997
| governor4     = V. C. Pande
| term_end4      = 11 February 1999
| term_start4  = 9 March 1999
| governor4      = [[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]]
| term_end4    = 2 March 2000
| predecessor4    = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| predecessor4  = [[President's rule]]
| successor4      = [[President's rule]]
| successor4   = Nitish Kumar
| office5         = [[list of chief ministers of Bihar|Spouse of the chief minister of Bihar]]
| governor5    = [[A. R. Kidwai]]<br/>[[Sunder Singh Bhandari]]
| 1blankname5    = Chief Minister
| term_start5  = 25 July 1997
| 1namedata5      = Lalu Prasad Yadav
| term_end5    = 11 February 1999
| 1blankname6     = Chief Minister
| predecessor5  = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| 1namedata6     = Lalu Prasad Yadav
| successor5    = [[President's rule]]
| term_start6    = 10 March 1990
| party         = [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
| term_end6      = 28 March 1995
| other_party  = [[Janata Dal]]
| predecessor6    = [[Jagannath Mishra|Veena Mishra]]
| spouse        = {{marriage|[[Lalu Prasad Yadav|Lalu Prasad]]|1973}}
| successor6      = herself
| relations     = [[Tej Pratap Singh Yadav]] (son-in-law) <br />Chiranjeev Rao (son-in-law) <br /> [[Sadhu Yadav]] (brother) <br /> [[Subhash Prasad Yadav]] (brother)
| term_start5     = 4 April 1995
| children     = 9 (including [[Tejashwi Yadav|Tejashwi]], [[Tej Pratap Yadav|Tej Pratap]] and [[Misa Bharti|Misa]])
| term_end5      = 25 July 1997
| parents      =  
| predecessor5    = herself
| footnotes     =  
| successor5      = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| date          =  
| party          = [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]]
| year          =  
| spouse          = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| source        =  
| website        =  
| term_start1  = 13 April 2022
| footnotes      =  
| term_end1    = 9 August 2022
| date            =  
| term_start2  = 12 May 2018
| year            =  
| term_end2    = 23 June 2020
| source          =  
| term_start7  = 11 December 1997
| relations       = [[Tejashwi Yadav]] (Son)<br/>[[Tej Pratap Yadav]] (Son)<br/>[[Misa Bharti]] (Daughter)<br/>Raj Laxmi Yadav (Daughter)<br/>[[Tej Pratap Singh Yadav]] (Son-in-law)<br/>[[Chiranjeev Rao]] (Son-in-law)<br/>[[Sadhu Yadav]] (brother)<br/> [[Subhash Prasad Yadav]] (brother)
| term_end7    = 2 June 2000
| constituency7 = ''Elected by the MLAs''
| office9       = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency9 = [[Raghopur Assembly constituency|Raghopur]]
| term_start9  = 2 June 2000
| term_end9    = 26 November 2010
| predecessor9  = Lalu Prasad
| successor9    = [[Satish Kumar Yadav]]
| constituency6 = ''Elected by the MLAs''
}}
}}


'''Rabri Devi Yadav''' (born 1 January 1956) is an Indian politician who is serving as the current [[Bihar Legislative Council|Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Vidhan Parishad]]. She formerly served three terms as the [[Chief Minister of Bihar]], the first and only woman till date to have held the office. She is a [[Member of Legislative Council|Member of Bihar Vidhan Parishad]]. She is the wife of Indian politician [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], former [[Chief minister|Chief Minister]] of Bihar and former [[Railway Minister of India]] and mother of [[Tejashwi Yadav]], former [[Deputy Chief Minister]] of Bihar and Leader of Opposition.  
'''Rabri Devi'''<ref name="GE2014">{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=General Election 2014 |url=http://ceobihar.nic.in/election/GeneralElection2014/PC20/S04-Bihar-20--May-2014%20%28%20GEN%20%29-3-RABRI%20DEVI.PDF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619112759/http://ceobihar.nic.in/election/GeneralElection2014/PC20/S04-Bihar-20--May-2014%20(%20GEN%20)-3-RABRI%20DEVI.PDF |archive-date=19 June 2018 |website=ceobihar.nic.in}}</ref><ref name="AE2010">{{Cite web| title=नाम निर्देशन-पत्र - बिहार (राज्य) की विधान सभा के लिए निर्वाचन | trans-title=Nomination Papers - Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar (State) | language=hi | url=https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3285e19f20beded7d215102b49d5c09a0/uploads/2023/05/2023051796.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705111828/https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3285e19f20beded7d215102b49d5c09a0/uploads/2023/05/2023051796.pdf | archive-date=2024-07-05}}</ref> ([[Devanagri]]: राबड़ी देवी,<ref name="GE2014" /><ref name="AE2010" /> {{IAST3|rābar̤ī devī}} {{IPA|sa|ɾɑːbəɽiː d̪eːʋiː}}) is an Indian politician who currently serves as the [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council|leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council]]. She served as the [[Chief Minister of Bihar|chief minister of Bihar]] almost continuously between 1997 to 2005; she is the first and only woman till date to have held the office. She is also served as leader of the house in legislative assembly). She was a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|member]] (MLA) of [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] and previously served as the [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly|leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly]].
 
A member of the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]], she is married to Indian politician [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], the former [[List of chief ministers of Bihar|chief minister]] of [[Bihar]] from 1990–1997. Her sons [[Tejashwi Yadav]] & [[Tej Pratap Yadav]] and daughter [[Misa Bharti]] are also politicians.
 
==Early life and education==
Rabri was born in 1959<ref>{{cite web |title=Smt. Rabri Devi |url=https://rjd.co.in/smt-rabri-devi/ |website=Rashtriya Janata Dal |publisher=RJD |access-date=27 May 2025 |archive-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118023759/https://rjd.co.in/smt-rabri-devi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2021-06-01 |title=25 की उम्र में 14 साल की राबड़ी से लालू ने की थी शादी, दहेज में मिली थी 2 गाय |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/bihar/state/patna/lalu-yadav-and-rabri-devi-celebrate-marriage-anniversary/bh20210601172436595 |access-date=2026-09-02 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-06-03 |title=लालू से उम्र में 11 साल छोटी हैं राबड़ी देवी, शादी के सालभर बाद देखी थी एक-दूसरे की सूरत, जानिये… |url=https://www.jansatta.com/lifestyle/rabri-devi-is-11-years-younger-than-lalu-saw-each-others-face-after-a-year-of-marriage-read-complete-story/1427300/ |access-date=2026-09-02 |website=Jansatta |language=hi}}</ref><ref name="rediff" /> in Salar Kalan village, located near [[Mirganj, Bihar|Mirganj]] in the [[Gopalganj district, Bihar|Gopalganj district]] of [[Bihar]]. However, she has stated in affidavits submitted for elections that her birth year is as early as 1953.<ref name="GE2014" /><ref name="AE2010" /> Her parents are Sib Prasad Chaudhary<ref name="sify">{{cite news|date=7 February 2005|title=Rabri Devi|newspaper=Hindustan Times|url=http://sify.com/news/internet/fullstory.php?id=13664560|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184612/http://sify.com/news/internet/fullstory.php?id=13664560|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> and Maharjia Devi. She is named after an [[Rabri|Indian sweet]] as per a custom in her family. Her 3 sisters are similarly named [[Jalebi]], [[Rasgulla]] and [[Paan]].<ref name="gulfnews">{{cite news |last1=Akbar |first1=M. J. |title=M. J. Akbar: Laloo steals Congress seats in Bihar for sweet Rabri |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/m-j-akbar-laloo-steals-congress-seats-in-bihar-for-sweet-rabri-1.319862 |date=19 April 2004 |work=Gulf News }}</ref>
 
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.<ref name="rediff">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/22rabri.htm|title=rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ Rabri Devi|work=Rediff.com|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114141826/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/22rabri.htm|archive-date=14 November 2005|url-status=live}}</ref> Prabhunath Yadav, [[Subhash Prasad Yadav]] and [[Sadhu Yadav]] are her three brothers.


==Political career==
==Political career==
Rabri Devi became the first female [[Chief Minister of Bihar]] on 25 July 1997, after her husband, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was forced to resign following the arrest warrant issued against him in corruption charges relating to the [[Fodder Scam|Fodder scam]]. She went on to rule the state till 2005.<ref name="kitchen">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dragged-from-the-kitchen-to-bihar-assembly-rabri-devi-learns-politics-fast/1/276449.html|date=1997-08-11|access-date=2017-01-31|work=[[India Today]]|first=Farz|last=Ahmed|title=Dragged from the kitchen to Bihar Assembly, Rabri Devi learns politics fast : Cover Story - India Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080503/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dragged-from-the-kitchen-to-bihar-assembly-rabri-devi-learns-politics-fast/1/276449.html|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="proxy">{{cite news|last=Mishra|first=Dipak|date=2017-02-17|title=Proxy rule lessons from Bihar|work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170219/jsp/frontpage/story_136545.jsp|url-status=live|access-date=2017-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165724/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170219/jsp/frontpage/story_136545.jsp|archive-date=27 March 2017}}</ref>
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|Fodder scam]]. Her appointment as the [[Chief Minister of Bihar|chief minister of Bihar]] is considered one of the most unexpected decisions<ref name="proxy" /> in Indian political history, as she was a traditional housewife and had no prior interest in politics.<ref name="kitchen" /> She came under severe criticism and mockery, due to her [[Literacy|illiteracy]] and inexperience.<ref name="rediff" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3514292.stm|title=Profile: Laloo to the Prasad Yadav|date=2006-12-18|publisher=BBC|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222090325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3514292.stm|archive-date=22 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/23rabri.htm|title=rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ Rabri Devi|work=Rediff.com|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050824081347/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/23rabri.htm|archive-date=24 August 2005|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
She went on to rule the state until 2005. She was also the last chief minister of undivided Bihar.<ref name="kitchen">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19970811-dragged-from-the-kitchen-to-bihar-assembly-rabri-devi-learns-politics-fast-831912-1997-08-10|date=1997-08-11|access-date=2017-01-31|work=[[India Today]]|first=Farz|last=Ahmed|title=Dragged from the kitchen to Bihar Assembly, Rabri Devi learns politics fast : Cover Story - India Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080503/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dragged-from-the-kitchen-to-bihar-assembly-rabri-devi-learns-politics-fast/1/276449.html|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="proxy">{{cite news|last=Mishra|first=Dipak|date=2017-02-17|title=Proxy rule lessons from Bihar|work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170219/jsp/frontpage/story_136545.jsp|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165724/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170219/jsp/frontpage/story_136545.jsp|archive-date=27 March 2017}}</ref>
 
[[File:Rabri Devi presenting a cheque for Rs. 10 crore on behalf of the State Government to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, in New Delhi on January 04, 2005.jpg|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, Vaishali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raghopur]] seat. In the [[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]], Devi contested from two seats: [[Raghopur, Vaishali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raghopur]] and [[Sonpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sonpur]], but lost both in an election where the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] faced defeat, winning only 22 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/rjd-mobbed-rabri-devi-loses-both-her-seats/702322|title=RJD Mobbed: Rabri Devi Loses Both Her Seats|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141449/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/rjd-mobbed-rabri-devi-loses-both-her-seats/702322|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Rabri-loses-in-both-seats/article15714578.ece|title=Rabri loses in both seats|newspaper=The Hindu |date=24 November 2010 }}</ref>


[[File:Rabri Devi presenting a cheque for Rs. 10 crore on behalf of the State Government to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, in New Delhi on January 04, 2005.jpg|thumb|Bihar CM Rabri Devi presents Rs.10 crore cheque to Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] for the national relief fund]]
She contested from [[Saran (Lok Sabha constituency)|Saran]] in [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha election]] but lost to [[Rajiv Pratap Rudy]] of BJP.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-JDU-RJD-decimated-in-Bihar/articleshow/35233557.cms|date=2014-05-17|access-date=2014-05-30|work=The Times of India|agency=TNN|first=Aditya|last=Vaibhav|title=Election results 2014: JD(U), RJD decimated in Bihar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520212838/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-JDU-RJD-decimated-in-Bihar/articleshow/35233557.cms|archive-date=20 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>


Devi was elected thrice to Bihar Vidhan Sabha from [[Raghopur, Vaishali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raghopur]] seat. In [[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]], Rabri Devi contested from two seats: [[Raghopur, Vaishali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raghopur]] and [[Sonpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sonpur]] assembly seats, but lost both in an election where the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] faced defeat, winning only 22 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/rjd-mobbed-rabri-devi-loses-both-her-seats/702322|title=RJD Mobbed: Rabri Devi Loses Both Her Seats|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141449/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/rjd-mobbed-rabri-devi-loses-both-her-seats/702322|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Rabri-loses-in-both-seats/article15714578.ece|title=Rabri loses in both seats}}</ref>
Devi was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council in 2024 elections.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rabri Devi were elected unopposed to the Legislative Council |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/patna/bihar-politics-11-candidates-including-nitish-kumar-and-rabri-devi-elected-unopposed-rjs |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Prabhat Khabar}}</ref>


She contested from [[Saran (Lok Sabha constituency)|Saran]] in [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha election]] but lost to [[Rajiv Pratap Rudy]] of BJP.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-JDU-RJD-decimated-in-Bihar/articleshow/35233557.cms|date=2014-05-17|access-date=2014-05-30|work=The Times of India|agency=TNN|first=Aditya|last=Vaibhav|title=Election results 2014: JD(U), RJD decimated in Bihar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531090847/http://m.timesofindia.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-JDU-RJD-decimated-in-Bihar/articleshow/35233557.cms|archive-date=31 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Personal life and family ==
{{See also|Political families of Bihar#Lalu Yadav family}}Rabri Devi married [[Lalu Prasad Yadav|Lalu Prasad]] on 1 June 1973 at the age of 14 years,<ref name=":0" /><ref name="sify" /><ref name="rediff" /> in a [[Child marriage in India|child marriage]].<ref name=":1" /> Together, they have seven daughters and two sons.<ref name="oneindia">{{cite web |title=Rabri Devi: Age, Biography, Education, Husband, Caste, Net Worth & More - Oneindia |url=https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/rabri-devi-32893.html |work=OneIndia |language=en}}</ref><ref name="sify" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-paid-off-a-debt-to-his-wife-handsomely-1093659|title=Rabri vividly recalls how she had boarded a steamer at Pahleja Ghat in Sonepur (Chapra) to reach the Patna residence soon after her marriage on March 18, 1974 when curfew had been imposed all over the district|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224215207/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-paid-off-a-debt-to-his-wife-handsomely-1093659|archive-date=24 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140327/jsp/frontpage/story_18124041.jsp|title = A sibling swing at succession|last = Thakur|first = Sankarshan|date = 27 March 2014|journal = The Telegraph|access-date = 2015-01-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140614091750/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140327/jsp/frontpage/story_18124041.jsp|archive-date = 14 June 2014|url-status = dead}}</ref> During her wedding, [[Lalu Prasad Yadav|Lalu]] was given ₹20,000 cash, five [[Bigha|bighas]] of land and two [[jersey cows]] as [[Dowry system in India|dowry]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-01 |title=राबड़ी देवी के गौना आते ही लालू प्रसाद यादव को जाना पड़ा था जेल, कुछ ऐसी थी बीवी संग पहली मुलाकात |url=https://www.jansatta.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/after-marriage-lalu-prasad-yadav-had-to-go-to-jail-as-soon-as-rabri-devi-came-to-gauna/1732915/ |access-date=2026-09-02 |website=Jansatta |language=hi}}</ref> but he went on to demand an additional ₹5,000 from her father, which was eventually fulfilled.<ref name="rediff" />


==Criticism==
She is also known for maintaining a simple and grounded public image while continuing to remain active in Bihar politics as a senior leader.
Devi's appointment as the [[Chief Minister of Bihar]] is considered one of the most unexpected and awkward decisions<ref name="proxy" /> in Indian political history, as she was a traditional housewife and had no interest nor any prior experience in politics.<ref name="kitchen" /> She came under severe satirical criticism and stiff opposition, because of her [[Literacy|illiteracy]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/22rabri.htm|title=rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ Rabri Devi|publisher=Rediff.com|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114141826/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/22rabri.htm|archive-date=14 November 2005|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3514292.stm|title=Profile: Laloo to the Prasad Yadav|date=2006-12-18|publisher=BBC|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222090325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3514292.stm|archive-date=22 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> and inexperience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/23rabri.htm|title=rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ Rabri Devi|publisher=Rediff.com|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050824081347/http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/feb/23rabri.htm|archive-date=24 August 2005|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
|title=कैसे बनीं राबड़ी देवी बिहार की पहली महिला मुख्यमंत्री? पढ़िए पूरी कहानी
|url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/bihar-election/political-journey-of-rabri-devi-who-become-first-woman-chief-minister-of-bihar-politics
|website=Prabhat Khabar
|access-date=2026-03-22
}}</ref>


==Personal life==
== Positions held ==
Rabri Devi was born in 1956 in [[Gopalganj, Bihar|Gopalganj]], Bihar.<ref name="oneindia">{{cite web |title=Rabri Devi: Age, Biography, Education, Husband, Caste, Net Worth & More - Oneindia |url=https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/rabri-devi-32893.html |website=www.oneindia.com |publisher=OneIndia |language=en}}</ref> She is named after an [[Rabri|Indian sweet]] as per a custom in her family. Her sisters are similarly named [[Jalebi]], [[Rasgulla]] and [[Paan]].<ref name="gulfnews">{{cite news |last1=Akbar |first1=M. J. |title=M. J. Akbar: Laloo steals Congress seats in Bihar for sweet Rabri |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/m-j-akbar-laloo-steals-congress-seats-in-bihar-for-sweet-rabri-1.319862 |access-date=14 December 2020 |work=gulfnews.com |language=en}}</ref> Rabri Devi married [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] in 1973<ref name="sify-2005-02-07">{{cite news|date=7 February 2005|title=Rabri Devi|newspaper=Hindustan Times|url=http://sify.com/news/internet/fullstory.php?id=13664560|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184612/http://sify.com/news/internet/fullstory.php?id=13664560|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-paid-off-a-debt-to-his-wife-handsomely-1093659|title=Rabri vividly recalls how she had boarded a steamer at Pahleja Ghat in Sonepur (Chapra) to reach the Patna residence soon after her marriage on March 18, 1974 when curfew had been imposed all over the district|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224215207/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lalu-paid-off-a-debt-to-his-wife-handsomely-1093659|archive-date=24 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> at the age of 17 and has nine children, seven girls and two boys.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140327/jsp/frontpage/story_18124041.jsp|title = A sibling swing at succession|last = Thakur|first = Sankarshan|date = 27 March 2014|journal = The Telegraph|access-date = 2015-01-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140614091750/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140327/jsp/frontpage/story_18124041.jsp|archive-date = 14 June 2014|url-status = live}}</ref> Her younger son [[Tejashwi Yadav]] served as the 4th [[Deputy Chief Minister]] of Bihar and currently serves as the [[Leader of Opposition]] in the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]], the youngest to hold the office.
Rabri Devi has been elected 3 times as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] and 4 times as [[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|MLC]].


==In popular culture==
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=50%
In 2021, Indian web series ''[[Maharani (web series)|Maharani]]'' was inspired by Rabri Devi's tenure as the chief minister.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Menon |first1=Aditya |title=Jungle Raj Inverted: ‘Maharani’ Gets Caste Better Than Many Others |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/hot-on-web/maharani-web-series-huma-qureshi-sonyliv-rabri-devi-bihar-caste-politics |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=TheQuint |date=2 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chaara Ghotala As Daana Ghotala, How Bollywood Passes Off Facts As Fodder For Fiction |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/chaara-ghotala-as-daana-ghotala-how-bollywood-passes-off-facts-as-fodder-for-fiction/384445 |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=Outlook India}}</ref>
! # !! From !! To !! Position !! Party
|-
| 1. || 1997 || 2000 || 
*[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|MLC]] (1st term) in [[Bihar Legislative Council]] 
*[[List of chief ministers of Bihar|Chief Minister]] (1st & 2nd term) in [[Government of Bihar]]
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|-
| 2. || 2000 || 2005 ||
*[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] (1st term) from [[Raghopur Assembly constituency|Raghopur]] (by-poll)
*[[List of chief ministers of Bihar|Chief Minister]] (3rd term) in [[Government of Bihar]]
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|-
| 3. || Feb 2005 || Oct 2005 ||
*[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] (2nd term) from [[Raghopur Assembly constituency|Raghopur]]
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|-
| 4. || 2005 || 2010 ||
*[[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] (3rd term) from [[Raghopur Assembly constituency|Raghopur]]
*[[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly|Leader of Opposition]] in [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] (1st term)
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|-
| 5. || 2012 || 2018 ||
*[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|MLC]] (2nd term) in [[Bihar Legislative Council]]
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|-
| 6. || 2018 || 2024 ||
*[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|MLC]] (3rd term) in [[Bihar Legislative Council]]
*[[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council|Leader of Opposition]] in [[Bihar Legislative Council]] (1st & 2nd term)<ref name="No surprises in U.P., Bihar Council polls">{{cite news |date=19 April 2018 |title=No surprises in U.P., Bihar Council polls |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/no-surprises-in-up-bihar-council-polls/article23608245.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251125133019/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/no-surprises-in-up-bihar-council-polls/article23608245.ece |archive-date=25 November 2025 |access-date=25 November 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|-
| 7. || 2024 || Present ||
*[[Member of the Legislative Council (India)|MLC]] (4th term) in [[Bihar Legislative Council]]
*[[List of leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council|Leader of Opposition]] in [[Bihar Legislative Council]] (3rd term)<ref name="CM Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Rabri Devi among 11 elected unopposed to Bihar Legislative Council">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=14 March 2024 |title=CM Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Rabri Devi among 11 elected unopposed to Bihar Legislative Council |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nitish-rabri-among-11-elected-unopposed-to-bihar-legislative-council/article67950467.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251125132709/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nitish-rabri-among-11-elected-unopposed-to-bihar-legislative-council/article67950467.ece |archive-date=25 November 2025 |access-date=25 November 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|| [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]]
|}


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Rabri}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Rabri}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Bihar]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Bihar]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Janata Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Finance Ministers of Bihar]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of Bihar]]
[[Category:Women chief ministers of Indian states]]
[[Category:Women chief ministers of Indian states]]
[[Category:United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Women members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Women members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Yadav family of Bihar]]
[[Category:Yadav family (Bihar)]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Bihar Legislative Council]]
[[Category:Members of the Bihar Legislative Council]]
[[Category:Members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2000–2005]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council]]

Latest revision as of 10:41, 28 September 2026

Rabri Devi
Devi in 2005
Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Council
Assumed office
14 February 2024
Preceded byHari Sahni
In office
13 April 2022 – 9 August 2022
LeaderNitish Kumar
Preceded byHerself
Succeeded bySamrat Choudhary
In office
12 May 2018 – 23 June 2020
Preceded bySushil Kumar Modi
Succeeded byHerself
21st Chief Minister of Bihar
In office
11 March 2000 – 6 March 2005
GovernorV. C. Pande
M. Rama Jois
Buta Singh
Preceded byNitish Kumar
Succeeded byPresident's rule
In office
9 March 1999 – 2 March 2000
GovernorV. C. Pande
Preceded byPresident's rule
Succeeded byNitish Kumar
In office
25 July 1997 – 11 February 1999
GovernorA. R. Kidwai
Sunder Singh Bhandari
Preceded byLalu Prasad Yadav
Succeeded byPresident's rule
Member of Bihar Legislative Council
Assumed office
7 May 2012
ConstituencyElected by the MLAs
In office
11 December 1997 – 2 June 2000
ConstituencyElected by the MLAs
18th Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
20 November 2005 – 23 December 2010
Preceded byUpendra Kushwaha
Succeeded byAbdul Bari Siddiqui
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
2 June 2000 – 26 November 2010
Preceded byLalu Prasad
Succeeded bySatish Kumar Yadav
ConstituencyRaghopur
Personal details
Born (1959-01-01) 1 January 1959 (age 67)
Salar Kalan, Bihar, India
Political partyRashtriya Janata Dal
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1973)
RelationsTej Pratap Singh Yadav (son-in-law)
Chiranjeev Rao (son-in-law)
Sadhu Yadav (brother)
Subhash Prasad Yadav (brother)
Children9 (including Tejashwi, Tej Pratap and Misa)

Rabri Devi[1][2] (Devanagri: राबड़ी देवी,[1][2] IAST: rābar̤ī devī Sanskrit pronunciation: [ɾɑːbəɽiː d̪eːʋiː]) is an Indian politician who currently serves as the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. She served as the chief minister of Bihar almost continuously between 1997 to 2005; she is the first and only woman till date to have held the office. She is also served as leader of the house in legislative assembly). She was a member (MLA) of Bihar Legislative Assembly and previously served as the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.

A member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, she is married to Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former chief minister of Bihar from 1990–1997. Her sons Tejashwi Yadav & Tej Pratap Yadav and daughter Misa Bharti are also politicians.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Rabri was born in 1959[3][4][5][6] 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.[1][2] Her parents are Sib Prasad Chaudhary[7] 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.[8]

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.[6] Prabhunath Yadav, Subhash Prasad Yadav and Sadhu Yadav are her three brothers.

Political career[edit | edit source]

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[9] in Indian political history, as she was a traditional housewife and had no prior interest in politics.[10] She came under severe criticism and mockery, due to her illiteracy and inexperience.[6][11][12]

She went on to rule the state until 2005. She was also the last chief minister of undivided Bihar.[10][9]

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.[13][14]

She contested from Saran in 2014 Lok Sabha election but lost to Rajiv Pratap Rudy of BJP.[15]

Devi was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council in 2024 elections.[16]

Personal life and family[edit | edit source]

See also: Political families of Bihar § Lalu Yadav family

Rabri Devi married Lalu Prasad on 1 June 1973 at the age of 14 years,[4][7][6] in a child marriage.[5] Together, they have seven daughters and two sons.[17][7][18][19] During her wedding, Lalu was given ₹20,000 cash, five bighas of land and two jersey cows as dowry[20] but he went on to demand an additional ₹5,000 from her father, which was eventually fulfilled.[6]

She is also known for maintaining a simple and grounded public image while continuing to remain active in Bihar politics as a senior leader. [21]

Positions held[edit | edit source]

Rabri Devi has been elected 3 times as MLA and 4 times as MLC.

# From To Position Party
1. 1997 2000 RJD
2. 2000 2005 RJD
3. Feb 2005 Oct 2005 RJD
4. 2005 2010 RJD
5. 2012 2018 RJD
6. 2018 2024 RJD
7. 2024 Present RJD

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "General Election 2014" (PDF). ceobihar.nic.in. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "नाम निर्देशन-पत्र - बिहार (राज्य) की विधान सभा के लिए निर्वाचन" [Nomination Papers - Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar (State)] (PDF) (in हिन्दी). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Smt. Rabri Devi". Rashtriya Janata Dal. RJD. Archived from the original on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bharat, E. T. V. (1 June 2021). "25 की उम्र में 14 साल की राबड़ी से लालू ने की थी शादी, दहेज में मिली थी 2 गाय". ETV Bharat News (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "लालू से उम्र में 11 साल छोटी हैं राबड़ी देवी, शादी के सालभर बाद देखी थी एक-दूसरे की सूरत, जानिये…". Jansatta (in हिन्दी). 3 June 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ Rabri Devi". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Rabri Devi". Hindustan Times. 7 February 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  8. ↑ Akbar, M. J. (19 April 2004). "M. J. Akbar: Laloo steals Congress seats in Bihar for sweet Rabri". Gulf News.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mishra, Dipak (17 February 2017). "Proxy rule lessons from Bihar". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ahmed, Farz (11 August 1997). "Dragged from the kitchen to Bihar Assembly, Rabri Devi learns politics fast : Cover Story - India Today". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Profile: Laloo to the Prasad Yadav". BBC. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 February 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "rediff.com: The Rediff Interview/ Rabri Devi". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "RJD Mobbed: Rabri Devi Loses Both Her Seats". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "Rabri loses in both seats". The Hindu. 24 November 2010.
  15. ↑ Vaibhav, Aditya (17 May 2014). "Election results 2014: JD(U), RJD decimated in Bihar". The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Rabri Devi were elected unopposed to the Legislative Council". Prabhat Khabar. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  17. ↑ "Rabri Devi: Age, Biography, Education, Husband, Caste, Net Worth & More - Oneindia". OneIndia.
  18. ↑ "Rabri vividly recalls how she had boarded a steamer at Pahleja Ghat in Sonepur (Chapra) to reach the Patna residence soon after her marriage on March 18, 1974 when curfew had been imposed all over the district". Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  19. ↑ Thakur, Sankarshan (27 March 2014). "A sibling swing at succession". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  20. ↑ "राबड़ी देवी के गौना आते ही लालू प्रसाद यादव को जाना पड़ा था जेल, कुछ ऐसी थी बीवी संग पहली मुलाकात". Jansatta (in हिन्दी). 1 June 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "कैसे बनीं राबड़ी देवी बिहार की पहली महिला मुख्यमंत्री? पढ़िए पूरी कहानी". Prabhat Khabar. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  22. ↑ "No surprises in U.P., Bihar Council polls". The Hindu. 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "CM Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Rabri Devi among 11 elected unopposed to Bihar Legislative Council". The Hindu. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.

External links[edit | edit source]

Preceded by
Lalu Prasad Yadav 		Chief Minister of Bihar
1997—1999 		Succeeded by
President's rule
Preceded by
President's rule 		Chief Minister of Bihar
1999—2000 		Succeeded by
Nitish Kumar
Preceded by
Nitish Kumar 		Chief Minister of Bihar
2000—2005 		Succeeded by
President's rule
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