Remembering Dr. Mahendra Prasad
Mahendra Prasad, who came from a Jehanabad village, is a real rags-to-riches story. (Twitter/akhileshPdsingh)
Dr. Mahendra Prasad was a politician from Janata Dal (United) party, a Member of the Parliament of India representing Bihar in the Rajya Sabha. He was born in 1940 in Jehanabad, Bihar. He is known to be the richest Parliamentarian and founder of Aristo pharmaceutical. He became member of Rajya Sabha for seven consecutive terms from 1985. The Parliamentarian and Industrialist died at a private hospital, his party said on Monday. The 81-year-old Prasad passed away on Sunday night after battling prolonged illness.
Prasad was an MP from Bihar and was also elected to the Lok Sabha once in 1980 as Congress representative. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences at the death of Prasad, founder of Aristo Pharmaceuticals, and said his demise is a big loss to society and politics besides industry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar were among those who expressed condolences at his death.
Saddened by the passing away of Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Mahendra Prasad Ji. He served in Parliament for many years and was at the forefront of several community service efforts. He always spoke for the welfare of Bihar and its people. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 27, 2021
All you need to know about Dr. Mahendra Prasad
Besides being a pharma tycoon, Prasad was also a seven-time MP from Bihar. He’s one of the longest-serving Rajya Sabha MPs. Mahendra Prasad, known as ‘King Mahendra‘, won his first Lok Sabha election from the Jehanabad Constituency in Bihar in 1980.
Prasad was first elected to the Lok Sabha as a Congress candidate in 1980. While he was affiliated with the party for a long time, he later switched loyalties as the party’s fortunes declined. Despite losing the 1984 elections, he was nominated for the Rajya Sabha by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.
He joined the Janata Dal and then its offshoots, first Rashtriya Janata Dal and then JD(U).
Prasad has been in the Rajya Sabha since 1985. In addition to Congress and JD (U), Prasad was nominated in the Rajya Sabha by Janta Dal and Rashtriya Janata Dal.
His name was often prefixed with “King”, a nod to his vast fortune and the fact he remained in the Rajya Sabha since 1985, except for short gaps.
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