Sharad Yadav

He was born on 1 July 1947 in a farmers' family of modest means at Akhmau village in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh. Educated at Government Science College, Jabalpur and Government Engineering College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh for B.E.Sc. (Civil), an experimental degree course which was functional only for a few years where science graduates holding a B.Sc. degree were granted admission into the 2nd year of the engineering programme. President, Students Union, Jabalpur, Engineering College, 1971; influenced by the teachings of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia; active youth leader and participated in a number of mass movements; Detained under MISA during 1969–70, 1972 and 1975; played a significant role in the implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations.

Sharad Yadav has been in the news for making controversial statements. In 2017, he gave a speech comparing votes to daughter's honour and suggesting to prefer the former.[4] In 2015, during his Rajya Sabha speech, Yadav made sexist comments against south Indian women.[5] He was one of the accused in the infamous hawala scandal; however, the charges were dismissed by the Supreme Court of India.[6]

Sharad Yadav has won four times in 1991, 1996, 1999 and 2009 from Bihar's Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency from where Acharya Kriplani was elected in 1957. He also won thrice from other Lok Sabha constituencies. He has been defeated thrice from Madhepura constituency - twice by Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1998 and 2004 and by Pappu Yadav[7] of RJD in 2014.

He was elected first time from Jabalpur (MP) constituency of Lok Sabha in 1974. It was the time when JP Movement was at peak and he was the first candidate chosen by Shri Jai Prakash Narayan for political arena on election symbol of Haldar Kisan. Again, he was elected from the same constituency in 1977. He was elected from Badaun (UP) Lok Sabha constituency in the year 1989. Thereafter, he has been contesting from Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency except in the byelection caused by Lalu Yadav resigning his seat in 2004.[8]

The Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) is a political party in India launched by Sharad Yadav in May 2018[9][10][11] after he parted ways from Janata Dal (United) due to its alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar.[12][13][14]

A merger with Bahujan Mukti Party (founded on 6 December 2012) was proposed but was called off.[15] and was set up as a political wing of All India Backward (SC, ST, OBC) and Minority Communities Employees' Federation (BAMCEF).[16][17] V. L. Matang is the current President of the Bahujan Mukti party.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]