New Delhi: Sadhu Yadav – this is one name that is not new to controversy. The moment report came in that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had invited him for tea in Ahmedabad, a controversy erupted in Bihar BJP over this meeting.The rank and file of the Bihar that adored Modi was clearly baffled and unhappy with the sudden turn of events and Sushil Kumar Modi, the former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, lost no time in expressing his displeasure. After meeting Narendra Modi, Sadhu Yadav who once used to abuse BJP day in and day out, declared Narendra Modi even a better PM candidate than his own party's Yuvraj Rahul Gandhi. Sushil Modi might have been critical of this meeting but the speculations regarding Sadhu's joining of BJP are refusing to die down. An infuriated Sushil Kumar Modi went to the extent of saying that Bihar BJP will never accept Sadhu Yadav and the question of his joining the saffron party just doesn't arise. So who is this Sadhu Yadav and why does his name raises tempers all the time? Whenever there will be discussion on extra constitutional authorities in India's political history then one name that can never be omitted or overlooked is that of Sadhu Yadav alias Anirudh Prasad. Sadhu Yadav, brother-in-law of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, was a law unto himself in his heydays when his Jija Lalu Prasad and his sister Rabri Devi used to be the Chief Ministers of Bihar. According to political analysts, the very mention of Sadhu Yadav's name reminds the people of Bihar of what anti-Lalu parties term as ‘jungle raj' of Lalu-Rabri regime. The political commentators in Bihar hold Sadhu Yadav and his younger brother Subhash Yadav responsible for first spreading and then glorifying all the lawlessness of Lalu-Rabri regime. Here was a man who was seen as above all the laws of the land. He could get anything, legal or illegal, done in Bihar, by hook or by crook. Such was his terror that senior IAS and IPS officers considered his word final in administrative matters. In the party hierarchy, he was next only to Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi.According to observers in Bihar, Sadhu along with his younger brother Subhash, became powerful after Lalu had to go to jail in cases related to fodder scam. An insecure Laly handed over the reins of power to his wife Rabri Devi who in turn started relying on her two brothers for all major political and administrative decisions.It is said that during political rallies, brand new unsold cars were taken out of showrooms on Sadhu Yadav's instructions and were used for ferrying the party leaders and workers. Sadhu was also alleged to have patronized criminal gangs who had converted abduction into a flourishing industry. In 1999,Sadhu Yadav's name cropped up in Gautam-Shilpi murder case. The two lovers who were said to be friends with Sadhu were found murdered in a car. The needle of suspicion moved towards Sadhu but the police refused to act against Sadhu. Sadhu Yadav even refused to undergo DNA test so that the semen samples that were found on Shilpi's body could be matched. There were protests organized across Patna against the high handedness of Patna Police. Even the CBI closed the case terming it as a joint suicide.In 2001, Sadhu was elected to Bihar Legislative Council. In 2004, he was elected to Lok Sabha from Gopalganj constituency.His name appeared in the flood relief case of 2004-05 as well. It was the same case in which the internationally acclaimed Patna DM Gautam Goswami's name also figured as an accused. Goswami was suspended and he finally died.When Prakash Jha'a film ‘Gangaajal' was released in Bihar in 2003, it was fiercely opposed by Sadhu supporters who claimed the film was an attempt to malign Sadhu Yadav. Incidentally, the villain in this film was named Sadhu Yadav.Sadhu broke away with Lalu Prasad and his party RJD in 2009 when Lalu denied him ticket for Lok Sabha elections. Sadhu Yadav, to the surprise of everybody in Bihar, joined Congress with full blessings of Sonia Gandhi. But the people of Bihar rejected both Sadhu and Congress in 2009 Lok sabha elections.Sadhu Yadav whose words used to be laws once upon a time in Bihar was completely marginalized in state politics by now. Nitish kumar with support of BJP had dethroned RJD in Bihar and things became very difficult for Sadhu Yadav. After losing Lok Sabha elections in 2009, he completely went out of lime light.Now in 2013, he is once again back to headlines, thanks to Narendra Modi. Political commentators in Bihar are of the opinion that if Modi has any big plans for Sadhu with an eye on Yadav vote bank then it's going to back fire instead of paying dividends because elections have proved that Sadhu, without the backing of Lalu, has no hold over his caste men in Bihar. Instead, the BJP may have to pay a heavy price for its dalliance with Sadhu.
Updated on: December 22, 2013 6:48 IST
