The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD- "National People's Party") is a political party in India. It is led by Laloo Prasad Yadav. It held power in the Indian state of Bihar, under the Chief Ministers Laloo Yadav and then Rabri Devi, who is also Laloo's wife, but after the elections in February 2005 the state of Bihar came under President's Rule through Governor of Bihar Sardar Buta Singh. Since then, a new election has brought another party to power in the state. The RJD is also a member of India's governing coalition led by the Congress Party. The RJD was formed when Laloo Yadav broke away from Janata Dal in 1997. The mass base of the party has traditionally been comprised of Yadavs and Muslims, two large and relatively disadvantaged segments of Bihar's population.
