Ranchi: A special CBI court on Thursday sentenced RJD chief Lalu Prasad to five years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh in fodder scam. Lalu, Jagannath Mishra and 43 others were convicted on charges of fradulently withdrawing Rs 37.70 crore from the Chaibasa district treasury. With Thursday’s sentencing, Lalu Prasad becomes the second politician to lose membership of parliament in line with a Supreme Court ruling. 
Yadav, who was convicted in the 17-year-old multi-crore fodder scam by a CBI court in Ranchi on Monday, was also fined Rs 25 lakh.
Former chief minister and co-accused Jagannath Mishra has been sentenced to four years in prison.
RJD, meanwhile, said that they will challenge the order in a higher court.
According to a recent Supreme Court ruling, the conviction disqualifies Prasad from continuing as a member of Parliament (MP).
Yadav was sent to Birsa Munda central jail in Ranchi post his conviction by the CBI court. With the court order, it remains to be seen who will take up the mantle of RJD.
The front runners are Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi and his younger son Tejashwi Yadav. This will not be the first time for Rabri Devi to step into her husband’s shoes. In 1997, when Prasad had to resign, he appointed Rabri Devi as chief minister of Bihar. Rabri Devi remained as the CM till 2005, until JD(U)-BJP combine ended the RJD rule.
Now with crisis looming large over the RJD, Rabri Devi has emerged as the most favoured candidate to assume Prasad’s role.
