Sharad Yadav: A socialist stalwart and Mandal messiah who wore many hats

Sharad Yadav (75), who died at a Gurugram hospital on Thursday, was the founder president of the JDU. He was elected to the Lok Sabha seven times. He was the man who fought elections against political giants, from Rajiv Gandhi to Lalu Yadav. He was all this and much more.

Former Union minister Sharad Yadav died at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram on Thursday.

By India Today Web Desk: How does one describe Sharad Yadav? As a seasoned Parliamentarian who was elected to the Lok Sabha seven times (and thrice to the Upper House) from as many as three states. Or as an MP who resigned from Parliament three times on moral grounds? Or as an efficient Union minister? Or as NDA’s convener? How does one want to remember Sharad Yadav? As a socialist stalwart? Or as Mandal messiah who also bloomed in the saffron camp?

Sharad Yadav was the founder president of the JDU, a party that’s been ruling Bihar under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for 17 years. But he suffered an unceremonious exit after years of service for questioning Nitish Kumar’s decision to break the pre-poll alliance and go with the BJP. Sharad Yadav was the man who fought elections against political giants, from Rajiv Gandhi in Amethi to Lalu Yadav in Madhepura and, in his final days, had to merge himself into the RJD.

Sharad Yadav (75), who died at a Gurugram hospital on Thursday, was all this and much more. He was one of a kind politician who wore many hats.

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Sharad Yadav, who remained at the centre of Janata politics for decades, was seen to have forced then Prime Minister VP Singh’s hand in 1990 in implementing the Mandal Commission report granting reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) that changed the course of Indian politics.

Sharad Yadav’s demand for a caste-based quota within the Women’s Reservation Bill was seen to have caused the UPA II government to hold back on the law.

In 2011, Sharad Yadav was one of those who pushed the Congress-led government into initiating a socio-economic caste census, but its findings were never published.

A product of the JP movement of the 1970s, Sharad Yadav, was greatly influenced by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia’s ideals but also bloomed in the saffron camp.

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Sharad Yadav held various portfolios in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government between 1999 and 2004.

Sharad Yadav’s presence in Parliament was reassuring, many would admit. His oratory skill, which often reminded some of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s, was a highlight. Not many will forget the messages he delivered while talking about the role of the media and government during the Anna movement or when highlighting the struggle and rise of politicians from marginalised backgrounds like Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. All this was already being missed.

Last summer, when Sharad Yadav vacated the 7 Tughlak Road Bungalow after spending 22 years there, many were nostalgic and sad. He had come to Delhi after winning from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. He had to move to Delhi’s Chhatarpur as the RJD didn’t nominate him to the Rajya Sabha again. But the void created by his death in India’s political and social life will be much felt beyond Lutyens’ Delhi, across vast swathes of the hinterland.

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