Mangani Lal Mandal

Mangani Lal Mandal (born 1 July 1948) is an Indian politician and a former Member of the Parliament of India. A veteran socialist leader from the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) community in Bihar, he has represented the Jhanjharpur constituency in the Lok Sabha, served in the Rajya Sabha, and was a longtime member of the Bihar Legislative Council. In June 2025, he was appointed State President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar.

Early life and background Mandal was born on 1 July 1948 in a manual labour family in the Madhubani district of Bihar. He entered politics during his student years in the 1960s, serving as the General Secretary of the Students' Union at Ramkrishna College, Madhubani, in 1966. He was actively associated with socialist leaders including Karpoori Thakur and participated in the JP Movement and protests against the Emergency, during which he was detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).

Political career

State legislature and ministry Mandal served as a member of the Bihar Legislative Council for three consecutive terms spanning 1986 to 2004. During his tenure in state politics, he held ministerial portfolios in the Government of Bihar under the RJD-led administration.

Parliament of India In 2004, Mandal was elected to the Rajya Sabha representing Bihar, serving until 2009.

In the 2009 Indian general election, he contested and won the Jhanjharpur seat to the 15th Lok Sabha as a candidate of the Janata Dal (United).

Organizational roles and party shifts Ahead of the 2019 Indian general election, Mandal resigned from the Rashtriya Janata Dal and joined the Janata Dal (United), where he later served as a National Vice-President.

In January 2025, Mandal returned to the Rashtriya Janata Dal. On 19 June 2025, he was elected unopposed as the Bihar State President of the RJD, succeeding senior leader Jagada nand Singh, becoming the first leader from the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) community to head the party's state unit.