Prior to the emergence of Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1990, Jagannath Mishra was rated as the biggest mass leader in the Congress.

[6] He was also referred to as "Maulana" Jagannath because of his clout with the Muslims that he had earned by making Urdu the second official language of the state in 1980.

[7] Mishra supported and practiced populism, and had earned popularity among the teachers by taking over hundreds of private primary, middle and high schools across the state in 1977.

[15] However, by the time elections were held, the Mandal commission report was implemented which created reservations for certain sections of society and new caste based alliances teamed up which were in favour of Janata Dal of VP Singh.

[15] He finally joined Janata Dal (United) of Nitish Kumar after spending some time in the Nationalist Congress Party.

Although he took populist measures like distribution of surplus land over ceiling laws to Scheduled Castes, his tenure is perceived as highly corrupt and repressive.

Mishra also revoked the recommendation of Mungeri Lal commission's report[22] which provided reservation for backward castes.

[23] Mishra was also among those convicted of Fodder Scam along with Lalu Prasad Yadav and was subsequently sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment in connection with the case.

[24] Adopted amid pandemonium in the state legislature, the Bihar Press Bill prohibited the publication, sale and possession of any printed matter that was "scurrilous" or "grossly indecent" or "intended for blackmail.

"[25] Mishra maintained that while he supported a free press as necessary and vital to a democracy, it must be controlled if one section of it acts irresponsibly.

Citing instances of character assassination in the press that would damage the government's credibility, he said that he expected commitment to national goals and aspirations from journalists.

[25] In an unprecedented collective challenge to government attempts to curb press freedom, most of India's 10,000 newspapers shut down in protest of the anti-press measure adopted in Bihar and supported by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

[15] Journalists throughout the country walked out of their newspapers to protest what they regarded as "creeping" state censorship reminiscent of the tough emergency regulations imposed by Gandhi between 1975 and 1977.

Only in Jammu and Kashmir, where Urdu is the official medium, and Hyderabad before the army action in 1948 had given the language this kind of recognition.

[6] He was an erudite scholar, an author and an able administrator, and is credited with running of a tight ship during his tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar.

So he managed the staffs, as his opponents did, and got the railway station and Gandhi Maidan mutated in his own name and asked the Court to give him those properties.

And accepting the assertion of Mr. Mishra, the Court passed the judgement, quoting his aforesaid lines regarding law of mutation.