Synopsis"Few Indian politicians can match the mass appeal and charisma of Lalu Prasad Yadav. As the
leader of a political party, as the Chief Minister of Bihar and as Union Minister, he blazed a
trail, bringing a dash of rustic wit and flair into the nation’s political narrative of drab ‘political
correctness’. Although essentially a regional leader, his influence has extended beyond his home
state, often impacting important political developments at the Centre.
Gopalganj to Raisina Road is the journey of India’s most colourful political leader. From his humble
origins in Phulwaria village to his remarkable rise as Railway Minister, the narrative relives the
twists and turns and the highs and lows of his life. In doing so, it reveals little-known facets of
many inflection points in the nation’s history: the Emergency, how he got V.P. Singh to implement
the explosive Mandal Commission recommendations, the arrest of veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani
during the latter’s Rath Yatra, Sonia Gandhi’s decision to not lead the UPA government, his
acceptance of Manmohan Singh’s candidature for prime ministership in 2004, and his dramatic
relationship with friend-turned-foe Nitish Kumar.
A political potboiler as never seen before, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s autobiography is the most important
book if one has to understand the evolution of the politics of the dalits and the marginalized."
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Binding: HardBack
About the author
LALU PRASAD YADAV has held many portfolios successfully over the years. He has been Chief
Minister of Bihar twice, Union Railway Minister (2004–09), and Member of Parliament for Saran
(Chhapra) in 2009, and Madhepura in 2004. He is the National President of the Rashtriya Janata
Dal. During his stint as Railway Minister, Yadav steered the Indian Railways from being mired
in losses to posting a surplus of nearly ₹90,000 crore. He holds the unique distinction of being
a Member of all four Houses of the Indian political system—Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan
Sabha and Vidhan Parishad.
More importantly, Yadav has been a champion of social justice and has fought relentlessly for the
empowerment of the weaker sections of society.
