NEW DELHI: The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced today in the newly inaugurated Parliament building, featuring the swearing-in of Misa Bharti, daughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Bharti’s oath-taking is significant as she becomes the first member of the Lalu family to serve in the Lok Sabha since her father’s conviction 15 years ago.
Misa Bharti won the Patliputra seat, marking a notable return for the RJD in a constituency long contested by her family. After facing defeats in 2014 and 2019 to her uncle, BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav, Bharti clinched victory this time with a margin of over 85,000 votes, securing 613,283 votes against Ram Kripal’s 528,109.
Bharti’s victory is emblematic of the Lalu family’s resilience in Bihar politics. Lalu Prasad Yadav, a prominent figure, has faced numerous legal challenges, including a conviction in the fodder scam. The Fodder Scam involved hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged fraudulent reimbursements from the treasury of Bihar state for fodder, medicines and husbandry supplies for non-existent livestock. Despite this, his daughter’s success marks a comeback for the family in national politics.
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“Today, as a Lok Sabha MP, I took an oath in the temple of democracy to tread the path of fulfilling people’s aspirations with complete dedication, devotion to duty, sense of responsibility, selflessness, and impartial conduct. Many thanks to all of you!” Bharti wrote on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a video of her swearing-in ceremony.
Bharti’s campaign faced significant challenges, including violent incidents on voting day when Ram Kripal Yadav’s convoy was attacked, resulting in injuries and legal actions. Yet, Bharti’s perseverance paid off.
Bharti’s entry into the Lok Sabha comes at a time of significant political dynamics. Recently, she sparked controversy by suggesting that if the opposition INDIA bloc comes to power, BJP leaders, including PM Modi, would be jailed. This remark was sharply criticized by BJP leaders, who saw it as inflammatory.
Beyond her immediate political achievements, Bharti also engaged in broader political discourse. She questioned the statements of JD(U) leader Devesh Chandra Thakur, who claimed he wouldn’t help Yadavs and Muslims. Bharti asked what message Thakur intended to send with such divisive remarks, contrasting it with PM Modi’s slogan of “sabka saath, sabka vikas” (together for all, development for all).
This is the third round of electoral battle between Bharti and Ram Kripal, a former confidant of her father Lalu Yadav till 2014 when he was elected on a BJP ticket in the 2014 elections after quitting the RJD.
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Ram Kripal, once known as a close aide of Lalu’s, had quit the party right after Lalu had decided to field his eldest daughter from Patliputra in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Like the Saran constituency, Patliputra too saw violence on the day of voting on June 1 when Ram Kripal’s convoy was attacked in the constituency. Some members of his convoy got injured, and police booked nine people on Kripal’s complaint. While Lalu’s younger daughter, Rohini Acharya lost the Saran Lok Sabha constituency, Misa clinched her family’s old Pataliputra’s seat from Ram Kripal’s hands.