Patna, Dec. 12: Life has done a U-turn for Shambhu Nath Yadav (51). Till a few years ago, the former home guard jawan had to salute senior policemen and political leaders. Today, it is different for the RJD MLA from Brahmpur.

But then Shambhu was not just another home guard jawan. Years ago, he was deployed at Lalu Prasad's veterinary college peon quarters after he first became chief minister.

"I was posted there from 1990-1995. He gave me the ticket to contest this year's Assembly poll from Brahmpur seat in Buxar district. He is like a god for me," Shambhu said.

After guarding Lalu's house for five years, Shambhu was posted in some other districts but remained loyal to Lalu. He worked in the Bihar police for 28 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2011. He never thought his proximity to Lalu would take him to the Assembly. On November 9, a day after the election results, Lalu was busy accepting greetings from well-wishers when Shambhu entered 10 Circular Road and parked himself before Lalu. The RJD chief's joy knew no bounds on seeing him. "Have you people met Shambhu Nath Yadav? He defeated the BJP candidate and, most importantly, he was a home guard when I used to stay in the veterinary quarters."

Shambhu has memories of Tejaswi and Tej Pratap. "I've held them on my lap. They played with me. I'm very proud that today one is a deputy chief minister and the other a health minister. I feel good to sit in the Assembly where once Lalu ji sat and now his sons do."

Shambhu defeated Vivek Thakur, son of senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member C.P. Thakur, by 94,079 votes. Dilmani Devi, BJP patriarch late Kailashpati Mishra's daughter-in-law, held the seat before.

Asked changes his life has undergone, Shambhu said: "Earlier, I used to salute political leaders and senior cops, but now senior cops salute me. I don't need to salute political leaders now. But I will not mind saluting Lalu ji."

Lalu has always taken special care of people around him. The RJD fielded his personal assistant Bhola Yadav and Atri Muni, better known as Shakti Singh Yadav, a small-time leader loyal to him, from Bahadurpur and Hilsa Assembly seats, respectively, and both emerged victorious.