Lalu Prasad Yadav turns 79: RJD workers flood Patna residence in birthday show
Synopsis
Lalu Prasad Yadav's 79th birthday became a grassroots show-of-strength for the RJD, with supporters flooding the Rabri residence in Patna from midnight. Even JD-U — a rival party — offered greetings, a rare cross-party gesture ahead of Bihar's next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
Lalu Prasad Yadav turned 79 on 11 June , with celebrations centred at the Rabri residence in Patna .
RJD workers began assembling outside the residence from midnight , arriving with roses, cakes, and a band.
RJD State President Mangani Lal Mandal and MLA Bhai Virendra visited in person to extend greetings.
JD-U national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also offered cross-party birthday wishes.
Yadav's son Tej Pratap Yadav shared an emotional tribute on social media, calling his father 'a great leader and guiding force.'
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav turned 79 on Thursday, 11 June, with party workers and leaders from across the country converging on his Patna residence to mark the occasion. Supporters began gathering outside the Rabri residence as early as midnight, making it one of the more visibly mobilised birthday celebrations for a veteran Opposition leader this year.
Scenes at the Rabri Residence
A large number of RJD supporters assembled outside the Rabri residence in Patna, arriving with roses and cakes and accompanied by a band. During the festivities, supporters hailed Lalu Prasad Yadav as the 'messiah of the poor.' Workers said they had gathered to honour a leader who, in their words, had given voice, rights, and political representation to marginalised communities.
One supporter described the occasion as 'a day of joy for the RJD family,' expressing the hope that Yadav would remain active in political life to continue his long-standing fight for social justice.
What Party Leaders Said
RJD State President Mangani Lal Mandal and party MLA Bhai Virendra visited the residence of Rabri Devi — Yadav's wife and herself a former Chief Minister of Bihar — to extend personal greetings.
Mandal said: 'Today is a day of joy and celebration. We extend our heartfelt wishes and pray for his long and healthy life. He has been guiding us in the fight for social justice, and we look forward to his continued leadership and inspiration.'
Bhai Virendra added: 'Today, not only in Bihar but across the country, the birthday of Lalu Prasad Yadav, regarded as a voice of the poor and marginalised, is being celebrated.'
Cross-Party Greetings
The birthday drew wishes from beyond the RJD fold. Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad extended greetings, saying: 'Many congratulations to him on his birthday. May Lalu Yadav live a long life and continue to guide his party in the right direction to serve the people. This is our collective wish.' The cross-party gesture is notable given that the JD-U and RJD are on opposing sides of Bihar's political divide.
Tej Pratap Yadav's Tribute
Janshakti Janata Dal leader and Yadav's son Tej Pratap Yadav shared an emotional message on social media, writing that he considers himself fortunate to be Lalu Prasad's son. He described his father as not merely a parent but 'a great leader, an inspiring personality, and a guiding force' in his life. The message added a personal dimension to what was otherwise a large public political event.
The Broader Significance
At 79, Lalu Prasad Yadav remains one of India's most recognisable Opposition figures, with a political career spanning more than four decades and a base rooted in Bihar's backward-class and minority communities. His birthday celebrations have historically served as a show-of-strength exercise for the RJD, signalling organisational depth ahead of electoral cycles. This year's turnout, beginning at midnight, underscores that the party's grassroots mobilisation machinery remains intact. The next Bihar Assembly election is due in 2025, making such displays of loyalty increasingly consequential.
Point of View
Which matters more than any press release ahead of the Bihar assembly election. The cross-party greeting from JD-U is worth noting: it is either a diplomatic courtesy or a quiet acknowledgement that Yadav's social-justice constituency cannot be ignored. At 79, with a chequered legal history and a party navigating a complex family-political dynamic, the real question is whether the RJD can convert street enthusiasm into electoral arithmetic.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lalu Prasad Yadav's birthday and how old did he turn in 2025?
Lalu Prasad Yadav's birthday falls on 11 June. He turned 79 in 2025, with celebrations held at his Rabri residence in Patna attended by RJD workers from across the country.
Who attended Lalu Prasad Yadav's 79th birthday celebrations in Patna?
RJD State President Mangani Lal Mandal, party MLA Bhai Virendra, and a large number of RJD workers attended the celebrations at the Rabri residence. JD-U national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also extended cross-party greetings.
What did Tej Pratap Yadav say on Lalu Prasad's birthday?
Tej Pratap Yadav shared an emotional social media message saying he considers himself fortunate to be Lalu Prasad's son and described him as 'a great leader, an inspiring personality, and a guiding force' in his life.
Why are Lalu Prasad Yadav's birthday celebrations politically significant?
The celebrations serve as a show-of-strength exercise for the RJD, demonstrating grassroots organisational depth. With Bihar's next assembly election approaching, high turnout at such events signals the party's mobilisation capacity and Yadav's continued hold over his core constituency.
Who is Rabri Devi and why were celebrations held at her residence?
Rabri Devi is Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife and a former Chief Minister of Bihar. The family's official residence in Patna is known as the Rabri residence and serves as the traditional venue for RJD's major gatherings and celebrations.
