Lalu was elected a member of the Lok Sabha in 1977 as a Janata party candidate. At the age of 29, he was one of its youngest members of Parliament.
Lalu became Chief Minister of Bihar in 1990 but resigned in 1997 following his name figuring in multi-crore fodder scam.
He handed over the reins of power to his wife Rabri Devi in 1997 who continued as Bihar CM from 1997 to 2005.