Aklu Ram Mahto

Aklu Ram Mahto (1940 – 2020) was an Indian politician from Jharkhand, who served as Minister for Finance and Institution in undivided Bihar. He was a member of Rashtriya Janata Dal, having served as important functionary in several other political parties in past. He was a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly via Bokaro constituency. He won the Bihar Assembly Election in 1995 securing 99,798 votes. Mahto won Vidhan Sabha elections in the year 1980 and 1995. He had contested Lok Sabha elections from Dhanbad on four occasions while from Giridih and Hazaribagh once. Mahto was also associated with the movement, which started on the question of including Manbhum in West Bengal. He was one of the prominent leader to voice support for the rights of displaced people, who needed rehabilitation after the establishment of Bokaro Steel Plant. For four decades, after coming into existence of Bokaro Assembly constituency in 1977, he remained pivotal in its politics. His father Lalu Mahto (Koiri) was a farmer, while his mother Chhutia Devi was a housewife. He was younger of two sons of his parents. Mahto's father, Lalu Mahto (Koiri) sent him to Asansol Primary school, to learn Bangla language. Being good at studies, he was promoted soon to higher class and completed his primary education earlier than it was about to be completed. For secondary education, he was shifted to Pindargadhiya Foundation School. Mahto completed his matriculation in 1962, from Ramrudra High School, and by 1974, he earned several degrees, which included a bachelor's degree in law. After completing his education, he was selected for an administrative job in coal mines, but did not join it. Mahto was among the people, whose land were taken by government for establishment of steel city of Bokaro. The compensation in most of the cases was not provided to them. Consequently, he became an activist for the rights of displaced, who suffered due to land acquisition. Despite clearing the interview for a post of personal manager in an institution called BSL, he refused to join it and participated in the movement against Indira Gandhi's government, after the imposition of National Emergency in India.

He considered the 'right to vote' as most important privilege of democracy. By 2019, Mahto retired from active politics; he was residing with his family in his native village Chaura, after quitting politics, still he motivated the youth for exercising their franchise. The Dhanbad Legislative Assembly constituency was known for high pitched political battle between Samaresh Singh and Aklu Mahto, both man represented this constituency for number of times. After being elected to Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, both political rivals aspired to become a member of parliament. However, even after contesting in Lok Sabha elections for a number of times, neither of them were able to secure victory. After retiring from politics, Aklu Mahto declared Rajesh Mahto as his political heir. Soon after retirement of Mahto, Samresh Singh also announced his retirement, declaring Sangram Singh as his political heir.

Revolutionary Mahto had played an important role in the Jharkhand movement demand for the formation of a separate Jharkhand state within the constitutional framework of independence. Mahto was an ardent follower of socialist leader Jagdeo Prasad, he had organised several commemoration ceremony for him in Bokaro.