Laloo Yadav was a formidable force in India's most lawless state, Bihar, which his party has governed for the past nine years.

One of India's most colourful politicians, Mr Yadav is known for his quirky style, making the most of his humble origins and mass appeal. But he is also accused of corruption by his opponents.

As a politician he was groomed by socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan, who led a student movement in the early seventies. Mr Yadav's politics is based on mass mobilisation of the lower caste Hindu vote.

He was criticised and ridiculed for appointing his uneducated wife, Rabri Devi, as the state chief minister, after he had to resign following corruption charges against him in a multi-million dollar fodder scandal.

He formed the Rashtriya Janata Dal in 1997, after breaking away from the Janata Dal. After his party's disastrous electoral performance, in which is lost many of its parliamentary seats, his power has diminished.

It now remains to be seen how he performs in elections to Bihar's state legislature, which are due early next year.