Ram Vilas Paswan: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Short description|Indian politician (1946–2020)}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Ram Vilas Paswan
| name                = Ram Vilas Paswan
| image              = Ram Vilas Paswan addressing a press conference on four years achievements of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in New Delhi.JPG
| image              = Ram Vilas Paswan (cropped).jpg
| image_size          = 260px
| image_size          = 220px
| caption            =  
| caption            = Paswan in 2017
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1946|7|5|df=y}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1946|07|05|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Khagaria]], [[Bihar Province|Bihar]], British India
| birth_place        = [[Khagaria]], [[Bihar Province|Bihar]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2020|10|8|1946|7|5|df=y}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2020|10|08|1946|07|05|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[New Delhi]], India
| death_place        = [[New Delhi]], Delhi, India
| office              = [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]
| office              = [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]
| primeminister      = [[Narendra Modi]]
| primeminister      = [[Narendra Modi]]
| term_start          = 26 May 2014
| term_start          = 26 May 2014
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| predecessor        = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| predecessor        = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| successor          = [[Piyush Goyal]]
| successor          = [[Piyush Goyal]]
| office1            = [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| office1            = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start1        = 28 June 2019
| term_start1        = 28 June 2019
| term_end1          = 8 October 2020
| term_end1          = 8 October 2020
| constituency1      = [[Bihar]]
| constituency1      = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Bihar|Bihar]]
| predecessor1        = [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]]
| predecessor1        = [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]]
| successor1          = [[Sushil Kumar Modi]]
| successor1          = [[Sushil Kumar Modi]]
| term_start2        = July 2010<ref name= rajyasabha>{{cite web|title=Rajya Sabha members |url=http://164.100.47.5/newmembers/Website/Main.aspx|publisher= [[National Informatics Centre]], New Delhi and Rajya Sabha|access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>
| term_start2        = 8 July 2010<ref name= rajyasabha>{{cite web|title=Rajya Sabha members|url=http://164.100.47.5/newmembers/Website/Main.aspx|publisher=[[National Informatics Centre]], New Delhi and Rajya Sabha|access-date=9 April 2013|archive-date=29 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529070559/http://164.100.47.5/newmembers/Website/Main.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
| term_end2          = 2014
| term_end2          = 16 May 2014
| constituency2      = [[Bihar]]
| constituency2      = [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Bihar|Bihar]]
| predecessor2        =  
| predecessor2        =  
| successor2          =  
| successor2          =  
| office3            = [[Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers]]<ref name= rajyasabha />
| office3            = [[Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers]]<ref name= rajyasabha />
| term_start3        = 23 May 2004
| term_start3        = 23 May 2004
| term_end3          = 22 May 2009
| term_end3          = 22 May 2009
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| predecessor3        = [[Sunder Lal Patwa]]
| predecessor3        = [[Sunder Lal Patwa]]
| successor3          = [[M. K. Alagiri]]
| successor3          = [[M. K. Alagiri]]
| office4            = [[Minister of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]]<ref name= rajyasabha />
| office4            = [[Minister of Mines (India)|Union Minister of Mines]]<ref name= rajyasabha />
| term_start4        = 1 September 2001
| term_start4        = 1 September 2001
| term_end4          = 29 April 2002
| term_end4          = 29 April 2002
| primeminister4      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| primeminister4      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| predecessor4        = [[Sunder Lal Patwa]]
| predecessor4        = Sunder Lal Patwa
| successor4          = [[Uma Bharti]]
| successor4          = [[Uma Bharti]]
| office5            = [[Minister of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Minister of Communications and Information Technology]]<ref name= rajyasabha />
| office5            = [[Minister of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology]]<ref name= rajyasabha />
| primeminister5      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| primeminister5      = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| term_start5        = 13 October 1999
| term_start5        = 13 October 1999
| term_end5          = 1 September 2001
| term_end5          = 1 September 2001
| predecessor5        = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| predecessor5        = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| successor5          = [[Pramod Mahajan]]
| successor5          = [[Pramod Mahajan]]
| office6 = [[Leader of the House (Lok Sabha)|Leader of House in Lok Sabha]]
| office6             = [[Leader of the House (Lok Sabha)|Leader of the House in Lok Sabha]]
| term_start6   = 4 Jun 1996
| term_start6         = 4 June 1996
| term_end6     = 4 December 1997
| term_end6           = 4 December 1997
| predecessor6  = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| primeminister6      = [[H. D. Deve Gowda]]<br />[[Inder Kumar Gujral]]
| successor6     = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| predecessor6        = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| office7            = [[Minister of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irfca.org/docs/railway-ministers.html |title=List of Minister of Railways of India on Indian Railways Fan Club website |publisher= Indian Railways Fan Club|access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>
| successor6         = Atal Bihari Vajpayee
| primeminister7      = [[H. D. Deve Gowda]]<br />[[I. K. Gujral]]
| office7            = [[Minister of Railways (India)|Union Minister of Railways]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irfca.org/docs/railway-ministers.html |title=List of Minister of Railways of India on Indian Railways Fan Club website |publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club |access-date=9 April 2013 |archive-date=29 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529082342/http://www.irfca.org/docs/railway-ministers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| primeminister7      = H. D. Deve Gowda<br />Inder Kumar Gujral
| term_start7        = 1 June 1996
| term_start7        = 1 June 1996
| term_end7          = 19 March 1998
| term_end7          = 19 March 1998
| predecessor7        = [[C. K. Jaffer Sheriff]]
| predecessor7        = [[C. K. Jaffer Sheriff]]
| successor7          = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| successor7          = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| office8            = [[Minister of Labour and Welfare]]
| office8            = [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Union Minister of Labour]]
| primeminister8      = [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]
| primeminister8      = [[V. P. Singh|Vishwanath Pratap Singh]]
| term_start8        = 5 December 1989
| term_start8        = 5 December 1989
| term_end8          = 10 November 1990
| term_end8          = 10 November 1990
| predecessor8        = [[Bindeshwari Dubey]]
| predecessor8        = [[Bindeshwari Dubey]]
| successor8          = [[K. Chandrasekhar Rao]]
| successor8          = [[K. Chandrasekhar Rao]]
| office9            = [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| office9            = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start9        = 2014
| term_start9        = 16 May 2014
| term_end9          = 2019
| term_end9          = 23 May 2019
| constituency9      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]]
| constituency9      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur, Bihar]]
| predecessor9        = [[Ram Sundar Das]]
| predecessor9        = [[Ram Sundar Das]]
| successor9          = [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]]
| successor9          = [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]]
| term_start10        = 1996
| term_start10        = 10 May 1996
| term_end10          = 2009
| term_end10          = 16 May 2009
| constituency10      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]]
| constituency10      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur, Bihar]]
| predecessor10      = [[Ram Sundar Das]]
| predecessor10      = Ram Sundar Das
| successor10        = [[Ram Sundar Das]]
| successor10        = Ram Sundar Das
| term_start11        = 1991
| term_start11        = 22 June 1991
| term_end11          = 1996
| term_end11          = 12 May 1996
| constituency11      = [[Rosera (Lok Sabha constituency)|Rosera]]
| constituency11      = [[Rosera (Lok Sabha constituency)|Rosera, Bihar]]
| predecessor11      = [[Dasai Chowdhary]]
| predecessor11      = [[Dasai Chowdhary]]
| successor11        = [[Pitambar Paswan]]
| successor11        = [[Pitambar Paswan]]
| term_start12        = 1989
| term_start12        = 28 November 1989
| term_end12          = 1991
| term_end12          = 21 June 1991
| constituency12      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]]
| constituency12      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur, Bihar]]
| predecessor12      = [[Ram Ratan Ram]]
| predecessor12      = [[Ram Ratan Ram]]
| successor12        = [[Ram Sundar Das]]
| successor12        = Ram Sundar Das
| term_start13        = 1977
| term_start13        = 22 March 1977
| term_end13          = 1984
| term_end13          = 28 December 1984
| constituency13      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]]
| constituency13      = [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur, Bihar]]
| predecessor13      = [[Ramshekhar Prasad Singh]]
| predecessor13      = [[Ramshekhar Prasad Singh]]
| successor13        = [[Ram Ratan Ram]]
| successor13        = Ram Ratan Ram
| office14            = [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency14      = [[Alauli Assembly constituency|Alauli]]
| term_start14        = {{start date|1969}}
| term_end14          = {{end date|1972}}
| predecessor14      = Mishri Sada
| successor14        = Mishri Sada
| party              = [[Lok Janshakti Party]]
| party              = [[Lok Janshakti Party]]
| otherparty          = [[Janata Dal]], [[Janata Party]]
| otherparty          = {{ubl|[[Janata Dal]]|[[Janata Party]]}}
| awards              = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2021) (posthumously)
| awards              = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2021; posthumously)
| spouse              = {{marriage|Rajkumari Devi|1969|1981|reason=divorce}}<br/>{{marriage|Reena Sharma|1982|2020}}
| spouse              = {{plainlist|
| children            = 4; including [[Chirag Paswan|Chirag Kumar Paswan]]
* {{marriage|Rajkumari Devi|1969|1981|end=divorce}}
| residence          = [[Khagaria]], [[Bihar]], [[India]]
* {{marriage|Reena Sharma|1983|2020}}}}
| children            = 4 (including [[Chirag Paswan]])
| residence          =  
| education          =  
| education          =  
| alma_mater          = [[Patna University]] ([[M.A]], [[LLB]])
| alma_mater          = [[Patna University]] ([[Master of Arts|M.A]], [[LL.B]])
| website            =  
| website            =  
| footnotes          =  
| footnotes          =  
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}}
}}


'''Ram Vilas Paswan''' (5 July 1946{{spnd}}8 October 2020)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-dalit-face-at-the-centre-dies-after-long-innings/articleshow/78563578.cms | title=Ram Vilas Paswan, Dalit face at the Centre, dies after long innings | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=9 October 2020 | access-date=9 October 2020}}; {{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan, union minister, passes away at 74|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/ram-vilas-paswan-union-minister-passes-away-11602170143859.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> was an Indian politician from [[Bihar]] and the Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the [[First Modi ministry|first]] and [[Second Modi ministry|second]] Modi ministries. Paswan was also the president of the [[Lok Janshakti Party]], nine-times [[Lok Sabha]] member and [[Rajya Sabha]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bihar-elections-ram-vilas-paswan-remained-a-facilitator-never-the-face-280760-2015-07-05|title=Bihar elections: Ram Vilas Paswan remained a facilitator, never the face|first1=Amitabh |last1=Srivastava|date=5 July 2015|work=India Today|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> He started his political career as member of [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] and was elected to the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] in 1969. Later, Paswan joined [[Lok Dal]] upon its formation in 1974, and became its general secretary. He opposed the [[Indian Emergency|emergency]], and was arrested during this period. He first entered the [[Lok Sabha]] in 1977, as a [[Janata Party]] member from [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] constituency, and was elected again in 1980, 1989, 1991 (from Rosera), 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ram Vilas Paswan|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/topic/ram-vilas-paswan|access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
'''Ram Vilas Paswan''' (5 July 1946{{spnd}}8 October 2020)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-dalit-face-at-the-centre-dies-after-long-innings/articleshow/78563578.cms | title=Ram Vilas Paswan, Dalit face at the Centre, dies after long innings | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=9 October 2020 | access-date=9 October 2020 | archive-date=15 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215021817/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-dalit-face-at-the-centre-dies-after-long-innings/articleshow/78563578.cms | url-status=live }}; {{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan, union minister, passes away at 74|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/ram-vilas-paswan-union-minister-passes-away-11602170143859.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=mint|language=en|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210312171808/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/ram-vilas-paswan-union-minister-passes-away-11602170143859.html|url-status=live}}</ref> was an [[Indian politician]] from [[Bihar]] and the Cabinet Minister of [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] in the [[First Modi ministry|first]] and [[Second Modi ministry|second]] Modi ministries. Paswan was also the president of the [[Lok Janshakti Party]], nine-times [[Lok Sabha]] member and two-time [[Rajya Sabha]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bihar-elections-ram-vilas-paswan-remained-a-facilitator-never-the-face-280760-2015-07-05|title=Bihar elections: Ram Vilas Paswan remained a facilitator, never the face|first1=Amitabh|last1=Srivastava|date=5 July 2015|work=India Today|access-date=18 December 2019|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008202254/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bihar-elections-ram-vilas-paswan-remained-a-facilitator-never-the-face-280760-2015-07-05/|url-status=live}}</ref> He started his political career as a member of [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] and was elected to the [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] in [[1969 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1969]]. Paswan joined [[Lok Dal]] upon its formation in 1974, and became its general secretary. He opposed the [[Indian Emergency|emergency]], and was arrested during this period. He was first elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] in [[1977 Indian general election|1977]], as a [[Janata Party]] member from [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] constituency, and was elected again in the [[1980 Indian general election|1980]], [[1989 Indian general election|1989]], [[1991 Indian general election|1991]] (from [[Rosera Lok Sabha constituency|Rosera]]), [[1996 Indian general election|1996]], [[1998 Indian general election|1998]], [[1999 Indian general election|1999]], [[2004 Indian general election|2004]] and [[2014 Indian general election|2014]] elections.<ref name="Ram Vilas Paswan">{{Cite news|title=Ram Vilas Paswan|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/topic/ram-vilas-paswan|access-date=8 October 2020|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012015524/https://www.business-standard.com/topic/ram-vilas-paswan|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" />


In 2000, Paswan formed the [[Lok Janshakti Party]] (LJP) as its president. Subsequently, in 2004, he joined the ruling [[United Progressive Alliance]] government and remained a Union Minister in [[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]] and [[Ministry of Steel (India)|Ministry of Steel]]. He was posthumously awarded India's third highest civilian award the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692337 |title=Padma Awards 2021 announced |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs | access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shinzo-abe-tarun-gogoi-ram-vilas-paswan-among-padma-award-winners-complete-list/articleshow/80453596.cms |title=Shinzo Abe, Tarun Gogoi, Ram Vilas Paswan among Padma Award winners: Complete list |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=25 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
In 2000, Paswan formed the [[Lok Janshakti Party]] (LJP) as its president. Subsequently, in 2004, he joined the ruling [[United Progressive Alliance]] government and remained a Union Minister in [[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]] and [[Ministry of Steel (India)|Ministry of Steel]]. He was posthumously awarded India's third highest civilian award the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692337 |title=Padma Awards 2021 announced |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |access-date=26 January 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125161945/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692337 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shinzo-abe-tarun-gogoi-ram-vilas-paswan-among-padma-award-winners-complete-list/articleshow/80453596.cms |title=Shinzo Abe, Tarun Gogoi, Ram Vilas Paswan among Padma Award winners: Complete list |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=25 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128190946/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shinzo-abe-tarun-gogoi-ram-vilas-paswan-among-padma-award-winners-complete-list/articleshow/80453596.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Known for holding cabinet positions under 7 governments, Paswan was known as the weatherman of Indian politics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Ashok |title=Ram Vilas Paswan, the 'Weatherman' of Indian Politics, Leaves Behind a Void Near Impossible to Fill |url=https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/ram-vilas-paswan-the-weatherman-of-indian-politics-leaves-behind-a-void-near-impossible-to-fill-2945515.html |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=News18 |date=9 October 2020 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317044353/https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/ram-vilas-paswan-the-weatherman-of-indian-politics-leaves-behind-a-void-near-impossible-to-fill-2945515.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2024, he is the [[List of longest-serving members of the Union Council of Ministers|longest-serving]] Union minister who was not a member of the [[Indian National Congress]].


He was known for holding cabinet positions under 7 governments. He was known as the weatherman of Indian politics.
==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Paswan was born in a [[Dusadh|Dusad]] a [[Dalit]] family on 5 July 1946 in Shaharbanni, [[Khagaria district]] of [[Bihar]] to Jamun Paswan and Siya Devi.<ref name="LSProfile">{{cite web |title=Current Lok Sabha Members Biographical Sketch |url=http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=296 |access-date=27 August 2020 |date=19 June 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060619230245/http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=296|archive-date = 19 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/ram-vilas-dalit-face-wherever-you-go-manjhi-can-be-mahadalit-face/|title=Ram Vilas Dalit face wherever you go, Jitan Ram Manjhi can be Mahadalit face|date=29 July 2015}}</ref> Paswan held [[Bachelor of Laws]] and [[Master of Arts]] degrees from Kosi College, Khagaria and [[Patna University]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://pib.nic.in/profile/cabinet/20050601/ramvilaspaswan.asp |title=PIB :: Profiles |work=pib.nic.in |access-date=8 November 2011}}</ref> He had been selected as a DSP in Bihar police in 1969.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=713721656754057217|title=1969 मे मेरा DSP मे और MLA दोनो मे एक साथ चयन हुआ।तब मेरे एक मित्र नेपूछा कि बताओ Govt बनना है या Servant ?बस तभी मैंने राजनीति ज्वाइन कर ली|user=irvpaswan|date=26 March 2016|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Srivastava |first1=Amitabh |title=Ram Vilas Paswan: The Weather God |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/ram-vilas-paswan-the-weather-god-1543528-2019-06-06 |access-date=15 August 2020 |work=India Today |date=6 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
Paswan was born in a [[Dusadh]] family on 5 July 1946 in Shaharbanni, [[Khagaria district]] of [[Bihar]] to Jamun Paswan and Siya Devi.<ref name="LSProfile">{{cite web |title=Current Lok Sabha Members Biographical Sketch |url=http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=296 |access-date=27 August 2020 |date=19 June 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060619230245/http://164.100.24.208/ls/lsmember/biodata.asp?mpsno=296|archive-date = 19 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Santosh |title='Ram Vilas Dalit face wherever you go, Jitan Ram Manjhi can be Mahadalit face' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/ram-vilas-dalit-face-wherever-you-go-manjhi-can-be-mahadalit-face/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=29 July 2015 |language=en |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020122557/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/ram-vilas-dalit-face-wherever-you-go-manjhi-can-be-mahadalit-face/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Paswan held [[Bachelor of Laws]] and [[Master of Arts]] degrees from Kosi College, Khagaria and [[Patna University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/profile/cabinet/20050601/ramvilaspaswan.asp |title=PIB :: Profiles |work=pib.nic.in |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=31 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031212807/http://pib.nic.in/profile/cabinet/20050601/ramvilaspaswan.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> He had been selected as a [[Deputy superintendent of police#India|DSP]] in [[Bihar Police]] in 1969.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=713721656754057217|title=1969 मे मेरा DSP मे और MLA दोनो मे एक साथ चयन हुआ।तब मेरे एक मित्र नेपूछा कि बताओ Govt बनना है या Servant ?बस तभी मैंने राजनीति ज्वाइन कर ली|user=irvpaswan|date=26 March 2016|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Srivastava |first1=Amitabh |title=Ram Vilas Paswan: The Weather God |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/ram-vilas-paswan-the-weather-god-1543528-2019-06-06 |access-date=15 August 2020 |work=India Today |date=6 June 2019 |language=en |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024201750/https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/ram-vilas-paswan-the-weather-god-1543528-2019-06-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
[[File:Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in his office after taking over the charge as the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers in New Delhi on May 24, 2004.jpg|thumb|Ram Vilas Paswan in his office after taking charge as the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers in New Delhi on 24 May 2004|left]]
[[File:Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in his office after taking over the charge as the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers in New Delhi on May 24, 2004.jpg|thumb|Ram Vilas Paswan in his office after taking charge as the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers in New Delhi on 24 May 2004|left]]


Paswan was elected to the Bihar state legislative assembly in 1969<ref>{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ram-vilas-paswan-a-kingmaker-who-outlasted-many-kings/articleshow/78560919.cms | title=Ram Vilas Paswan: A kingmaker who outlasted many kings | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=9 October 2020 | access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref> as a member of the [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] (''"United Socialist Party"'') from [[Alauli (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Alauli]], a reserved constituency. He lost 1972 Vidhan Sabha election from Alauli to Shri Mishri Sada of Congress.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1972 |url=https://www.elections.in/bihar/assembly-constituencies/1972-election-results.html |website=Elections in India |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> In 1974, as an ardent follower of [[Raj Narain]] and [[Jayaprakash Narayan]] Paswan became the general secretary of the [[Lok Dal]]. He was personally close to the prominent leaders of anti-emergency like [[Raj Narain]], [[Karpoori Thakur]] and [[Satyendra Narayan Sinha]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Avinash|date=10 September 2015|title=Bihar Assembly Elections 2015: Know your leader Profile - Ram Vilas Paswan|url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/bihar-ram-vilas-paswan-political-journey-1864995.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=One India|language=en}}</ref>
Paswan was elected to the Bihar state legislative assembly in 1969<ref>{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ram-vilas-paswan-a-kingmaker-who-outlasted-many-kings/articleshow/78560919.cms | title=Ram Vilas Paswan: A kingmaker who outlasted many kings | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=9 October 2020 | access-date=9 October 2020 | archive-date=23 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223160658/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ram-vilas-paswan-a-kingmaker-who-outlasted-many-kings/articleshow/78560919.cms | url-status=live }}</ref> as a member of the [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] (''"United Socialist Party"'') from [[Alauli (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Alauli]], a reserved constituency. He lost 1972 Vidhan Sabha election from Alauli to Shri Mishri Sada of Congress.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1972 |url=https://www.elections.in/bihar/assembly-constituencies/1972-election-results.html |website=Elections in India |access-date=10 February 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612205930/https://www.elections.in/bihar/assembly-constituencies/1972-election-results.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1974, as an ardent follower of [[Raj Narain]] and [[Jayaprakash Narayan]] Paswan became the general secretary of the [[Lok Dal]]. He was personally close to the prominent leaders of anti-emergency like [[Raj Narain]], [[Karpoori Thakur]] and [[Satyendra Narayan Sinha]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Avinash|date=10 September 2015|title=Bihar Assembly Elections 2015: Know your leader Profile - Ram Vilas Paswan|url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/bihar-ram-vilas-paswan-political-journey-1864995.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=One India|language=en|archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014084709/https://www.oneindia.com/feature/bihar-ram-vilas-paswan-political-journey-1864995.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 1975, when [[Indian Emergency|emergency]] was proclaimed in India, Paswan was arrested and spent the entire period in jail. On being released in 1977, he became a member of the [[Janata Party]]<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.mkgandhi.org/jpnarayan/total_revolution.htm|title=Total Revolution|publisher=archive|access-date=2 December 2006}}</ref> and won election to [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] for the first time on its ticket from [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] with a record margin (later broken) of 424,000 and 89.3% votes which is perhaps an all-time record for General Election in India. Former PM Narasimha Rao got a higher percentage of vote in a 1991 bye-poll. When Janata Party split in 1979, he joined Charan Singh's faction. Paswan was re-elected to the 7th [[Lok Sabha]] in 1980 from Hajipur constituency as Janata Party (Socialist) candidate. In 1983, he established the Dalit Sena, an organisation for [[Dalit (outcaste)|Dalit]] emancipation and welfare. The Dalit Sena was later headed by his brother [[Ram Chandra Paswan]] . Later It was renamed as [[Scheduled Caste]] sena in a vein similar to the Scheduled Caste federation established by [[Bhim Rao Ambedkar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/bihar-has-ram-vilas-lost-his-revolutionary-zeal-and-love-for-dalits|title=Bihar: Has Paswan lost his revolutionary zeal and love for Dalits? |first=Soroor |last=Ahmed |date=11 September 2018 |work=National Herald|access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> Paswan lost 1984 Lok Sabha election from Hajipur.<ref>{{cite web |title=1984 India General (8th Lok Sabha) Elections Results |url=https://www.elections.in/parliamentary-constituencies/1984-election-results.html |website=www.elections.in |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref>


Paswan was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 and was appointed Union Minister of Labour and Welfare in the [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]] government.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Ram Vilas Paswan {{!}} Indian politician|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ram-Vilas-Paswan|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> He was elected to Lok Sabha from [[Rosera (Lok Sabha constituency)]] in 1991, the only time between 1977 and 2014 when he did not contest from Hajipur. In 1996, he won again from Hajipur, and he even led the ruling alliance or [[Proposition (politics)|Proposition]] in the Lok Sabha as the [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] was a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]]. This was also the year when Paswan first became the Union Railway Minister. He continued to hold that post till 1998.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=Sobhana K.|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan obituary {{!}} Dalit leader who wore many a hat|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-vilas-paswan-obituary-dalit-leader-who-wore-many-a-hat/article32807109.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Thereafter, Paswan was the Union [[telecommunication|Communications]] Minister from October 1999 to September 2001 when he was shifted to the Coal Ministry, the portfolio he held till April 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 March 2009|title=Ram Vilas Paswan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/election-news/key-contestants/story/ram-vilas-paswan-42748-2009-03-26|access-date=8 October 2020|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
In 1975, when [[Indian Emergency|emergency]] was proclaimed in India, Paswan was arrested and spent the entire period in jail. On being released in 1977, he became a member of the [[Janata Party]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mkgandhi.org/jpnarayan/total_revolution.htm|title=Total Revolution|publisher=archive|access-date=2 December 2006|archive-date=2 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002053443/http://www.mkgandhi.org/jpnarayan/total_revolution.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and won election to [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] for the first time on its ticket from [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] with a record margin (later broken) of 424,000 and 89.3% votes which is perhaps an all-time record for general election in India. Former PM Narasimha Rao got a higher percentage of vote in a 1991 bye-poll. When Janata Party split in 1979, he joined Charan Singh's faction. Paswan was re-elected to the 7th [[Lok Sabha]] in 1980 from Hajipur constituency as Janata Party (Socialist) candidate. In 1983, he established the Dalit Sena, an organisation for [[Dalit (outcaste)|Dalit]] emancipation and welfare. The Dalit Sena was later headed by his brother [[Ram Chandra Paswan]]. Later it was renamed as [[Scheduled Caste]] sena in a vein similar to the Scheduled Caste federation established by [[Bhim Rao Ambedkar]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/bihar-has-ram-vilas-lost-his-revolutionary-zeal-and-love-for-dalits |title=Bihar: Has Paswan lost his revolutionary zeal and love for Dalits? |first=Soroor |last=Ahmed |date=11 September 2018 |work=National Herald |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117014338/https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/bihar-has-ram-vilas-lost-his-revolutionary-zeal-and-love-for-dalits |url-status=live }}</ref> Paswan lost 1984 Lok Sabha election from Hajipur.<ref>{{cite web |title=1984 India General (8th Lok Sabha) Elections Results |url=https://www.elections.in/parliamentary-constituencies/1984-election-results.html |website=www.elections.in |access-date=10 February 2021 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301110522/http://www.elections.in/parliamentary-constituencies/1984-election-results.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 2000, Paswan broke from the [[Janata Dal (United)|Janata Dal]], to form the [[Lok Janshakti Party]] (LJP). He resigned as minister and left the ruling NDA in 2002 after developing differences with BJP. Following the [[2004 Lok Sabha elections]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=Sobhana K.|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan obituary {{!}} Dalit leader who wore many a hat|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-vilas-paswan-obituary-dalit-leader-who-wore-many-a-hat/article32807109.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Paswan joined the [[United Progressive Alliance]] government and was made the Union Minister in [[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]] and [[Ministry of Steel (India)|Ministry of Steel]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Ram Vilas Paswan - New Cabinet Minister Who Has Worked Under 6 PMs|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/pm-modi-cabinet-ram-vilas-paswan-new-cabinet-minister-who-has-worked-under-6-pms-2045662|access-date=8 October 2020|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
Paswan was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 and was appointed Union Minister of Labour and Welfare in the [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]] government.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Ram Vilas Paswan {{!}} Indian politician|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ram-Vilas-Paswan|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918072529/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ram-Vilas-Paswan|url-status=live}}</ref> He was elected to Lok Sabha from [[Rosera (Lok Sabha constituency)]] in 1991, the only time between 1977 and 2014 when he did not contest from Hajipur. In 1996, he won again from Hajipur, and he even led the ruling alliance or proposition in the Lok Sabha as the [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] was a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]]. This was also the year when Paswan first became the Union Railway Minister. He continued to hold that post till 1998.<ref name="Nair">{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=Sobhana K.|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan obituary {{!}} Dalit leader who wore many a hat|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-vilas-paswan-obituary-dalit-leader-who-wore-many-a-hat/article32807109.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009061438/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-vilas-paswan-obituary-dalit-leader-who-wore-many-a-hat/article32807109.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Thereafter, Paswan was the Union [[telecommunication|Communications]] Minister from October 1999 to September 2001 when he was shifted to the Coal Ministry, the portfolio he held till April 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 March 2009|title=Ram Vilas Paswan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/election-news/key-contestants/story/ram-vilas-paswan-42748-2009-03-26|access-date=8 October 2020|website=India Today|language=en|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012204528/https://www.indiatoday.in/election-news/key-contestants/story/ram-vilas-paswan-42748-2009-03-26|url-status=live}}</ref>


In the February 2005 Bihar State elections, Paswan's party LJP along with the Indian National Congress contested the election. The result was that no particular party or alliance could form a government by itself. However, Paswan consistently refused to support either Lalu Prasad Yadav, whom he accused of being extremely corrupt, or the right-wing [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] thereby creating a stalemate.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Madhav|first=Sanjay Kumar & Neel|date=18 August 2020|title=In Bihar, a balancing act: on poll alliances|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-bihar-a-balancing-act-on-poll-alliances/article32379523.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> This stalemate was broken when [[Nitish Kumar]] succeeded in persuading 12 members of Paswan's party to defect; to prevent the formation of a government supported by LJP defectors, the Governor of Bihar, [[Buta Singh]] dissolved the state legislature and called for fresh elections, keeping Bihar under [[President's Rule]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050524/main1.htm|access-date=8 October 2020|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> In the November 2005 Bihar state elections, Paswan's third-alliance was utterly devastated; the Laloo Yadav-Congress alliance reduced to a minority and the NDA formed the new government.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan: Stalwart of socialist movement and Bihar's foremost Dalit leader|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-stalwart-of-socialist-movement-and-bihars-foremost-dalit-leader-2315838.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref>
In 2000, Paswan broke from the [[Janata Dal (United)|Janata Dal]], to form the [[Lok Janshakti Party]] (LJP). He resigned as minister and left the ruling NDA in 2002 after developing differences with BJP. Following the [[2004 Lok Sabha elections]],<ref name="Nair"/> Paswan joined the United Progressive Alliance government and was made the Union Minister in [[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)|Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]] and [[Ministry of Steel (India)|Ministry of Steel]].<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Ram Vilas Paswan - New Cabinet Minister Who Has Worked Under 6 PMs |url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/pm-modi-cabinet-ram-vilas-paswan-new-cabinet-minister-who-has-worked-under-6-pms-2045662 |access-date=8 October 2020 |work=NDTV |date=31 May 2019}}</ref>
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visiting the Bihar Museum, in Patna.jpg|thumb|Ramvilas Paswan (extreme left), with [[Nitish Kumar]] (centre) and [[Narendra Modi]], inspecting the inaugural Bihar Museum.]]
In the February 2005 Bihar State elections, Paswan's party LJP along with the Indian National Congress contested the election. The result was that no particular party or alliance could form a government by itself. However, Paswan consistently refused to support either Lalu Prasad Yadav, whom he accused of being extremely corrupt, or the right-wing [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] thereby creating a stalemate.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Madhav|first=Sanjay Kumar & Neel|date=18 August 2020|title=In Bihar, a balancing act: on poll alliances|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-bihar-a-balancing-act-on-poll-alliances/article32379523.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001161700/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/in-bihar-a-balancing-act-on-poll-alliances/article32379523.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> This stalemate was broken when Nitish Kumar succeeded in persuading 12 members of Paswan's party to defect; to prevent the formation of a government supported by LJP defectors, the Governor of Bihar, [[Buta Singh]] dissolved the state legislature and called for fresh elections, keeping Bihar under [[President's Rule]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=T. R |date=24 May 2005 |title=Bihar Assembly dissolved Nitish pre-empted; NDA cries foul |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050524/main1.htm |access-date=8 October 2020 |work=Tribune |archive-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201141823/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050524/main1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In the November 2005 Bihar state elections, Paswan's third-alliance was utterly devastated; the Laloo Yadav-Congress alliance reduced to a minority and the NDA formed the new government.<ref name="zeenews.india.com">{{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan: Stalwart of socialist movement and Bihar's foremost Dalit leader|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-stalwart-of-socialist-movement-and-bihars-foremost-dalit-leader-2315838.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Zee News|language=en|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011194227/https://zeenews.india.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-stalwart-of-socialist-movement-and-bihars-foremost-dalit-leader-2315838.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


[[File:Politicians campaing in Mumbai - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|Paswan together with [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] (center) and [[Amar Singh (politician)|Amar Singh]] (left) at a party rally in [[Mumbai]] during the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general elections]].|alt=|left]]
Paswan has declared that the Bihar state elections have no influence on the [[Government of India|Central Government]], which will continue with both him and Laloo Yadav as ministers.
Paswan has declared that the Bihar state elections have no influence on the [[Government of India|Central Government]], which will continue with both him and Laloo Yadav as ministers.
Paswan has served as a Union Minister under five different Prime Ministers and continuously held a cabinet berth in all the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of India|Council of Ministers]] formed since 1996 (as of 2015). He was also part of all the national coalitions (the [[United Front (India)|United Front]], the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] and the [[United Progressive Alliance]]), which have formed the Indian Government from 1996 to 2015.<ref>{{cite web
Paswan has served as a Union Minister under five different Prime Ministers and continuously held a cabinet berth in all the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of India|Council of Ministers]] formed since 1996 (as of 2015). He was also part of all the national coalitions (the [[United Front (India, 1996)|United Front]], the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance), which have formed the Indian Government from 1996 to 2015.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php
| url=http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php
| title= Details of Member: Shri Ram Vilas Paswan
| title=Details of Member: Shri Ram Vilas Paswan
| publisher=archive
| publisher=archive
| access-date=12 February 2009
| access-date=12 February 2009
}}
| archive-date=12 February 2009
</ref>
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212143215/http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
===2009 Indian general election===
For the [[2009 Indian general election]] Paswan forged an alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav and his [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]], while dumping their erstwhile coalition partner and leader of the United Progressive Alliance, the [[Indian National Congress]] from the new alliance. The duo was later joined by [[Mulayam Singh]]'s [[Samajwadi Party]] and were declared the Fourth Front.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Joshi|first=Poornima|date=8 October 2020|title=Obituary {{!}} Ram Vilas Paswan (1946-2020): A man for all seasons|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/obituary-ram-vilas-paswan-1946-2020-a-man-for-all-seasons/article32806759.ece|work=Business Line|access-date=8 October 2020|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011124406/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/obituary-ram-vilas-paswan-1946-2020-a-man-for-all-seasons/article32806759.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Paswan lost the elections from [[Hajipur]] to the [[Janata Dal (United)|Janata Dal]]'s Ram Sundar Das, a former [[chief minister]] of [[Bihar]] for the first time in 33 years.<ref name="Ram Vilas Paswan"/> His party the [[Lok Janshakti Party]] was not able to win any seats in the [[15th Lok Sabha]], while his coalition partner Yadav and his party too failed to perform well and were reduced to 4 seats.<ref name="zeenews.india.com"/>
===2010 assembly election===
[[File: 2010Ljp.jpg|thumb|right|Paswan sitting with [[Lok Janshakti Party|L.J.P.]] candidate [[Kapildev Prasad Singh|Kapildev Singh]] from [[Asthawan Assembly constituency|Asthawan]] in [[Nalanda]] during 2010 Bihar elections]]
Before the assembly elections to be held in 2010, Paswan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from the assembly, Ram Vilas Paswan and [[Lalu Prasad Yadav|Lalu]] fought the [[2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2010 Bihar election]] together and also claimed to form the government in Bihar with two-thirds majority. They termed the [[Nitish Kumar|Nitish]] [[Bhartiya Janata Party|B.J.P.]] government that has been running for 5 years as ineffective and accused [[Nitish Kumar|Nitish]] of taking [[Bihar]] into trouble. The work of taking has been done due to which [[Bihar]] has lagged further behind. Accusing the [[National Democratic Alliance|N.D.A.]], he said that 30 percent of the voters in Bihar are fake and the [[Government of Bihar|government]] is also behind this.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/30-per-cent-voter-cards-fake-in-bihar-paswan/articleshow/6626768.cms|title= 30 percent voters fake in Bihar- Paswan|newspaper= The times of India|date= 25 September 2010}}</ref> [[Lalu Prasad Yadav|Lalu's]] party [[Rashtriya Janata Dal|RJD]] and Ram Vilas had fought this election together in alliance, in which [[Lok Janshakti Party|L.J.P.]] fielded its candidates on 75 seats, while only 3 candidates could win, and could not even save the deposit on many seats. This performance of the party was less than the last election of [[October 2005 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2005 Bihar election]]. The condition of the alliance was such that only 22 candidates could win for RJD. Seeing such poor performance of the party, Paswan and Lalu's Dalit, Muslim and backward politics took a new dimension.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/paswan-rudy-win-rajya-sabha-seats-from-bihar-mallya-from-karnataka/articleshow/6058036.cms|title= Paswan-rudy wins Rajyasabha election from Bihar|newspaper= The times of India|date= 17 June 2010}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rjd-chief-lalu-prasad-and-ljp-chief-ram-vilas-paswan-in-a-joint-press-meet-on-thursday-reiterated-that-their-alliance-would-get-about-two-third-majority-in-the-state-election-in-bihar-to-form-a-new-government-their-government-would-hold-probe-into-all-alleged-scams-detected-so-far-during-the-nitish-government-/articleshow/6949022.cms|title= Ramvilas paswan and Rjd chief Lalu joint press conference|newspaper= The times of India|date= 18 November 2010}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/bihar-elections-2010/election-updates/story/20100927-the-clash-of-2010-744139-2010-09-17|title= The clash of 2010|newspaper= India Today|date= 18 September 2010}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aajtak.in/elections/story/Bihar-Election-results-Live-Update-53215-2010-11-24|title= JDU Bjp alliance come back with two third majority|newspaper= Aaj Tak|date= 24 November 2010}}</ref>
 
===2014 Indian general election===
Paswan was elected as member of [[16th Lok Sabha]] after the [[2014 Indian general election]] from [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] constituency when he contested in alliance with BJP, while his son Chirag Paswan won from [[Jamui (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jamui]] constituency also in Bihar.<ref name=":2">{{cite web | title = LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, son Chirag Paswan win | work = Daily News & Analysis | url = https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ljp-chief-ram-vilas-paswan-son-chirag-paswan-win-1989065 | date = 16 May 2014 | access-date = 18 May 2014 | archive-date = 18 May 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140518064043/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ljp-chief-ram-vilas-paswan-son-chirag-paswan-win-1989065 | url-status = live }}</ref>


For the [[2009 Indian general election]] Paswan forged an alliance with [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] and his [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]], while dumping their erstwhile coalition partner and leader of the [[United Progressive Alliance]], the [[Indian National Congress]] from the new alliance. The duo was later joined by [[Mulayam Singh]]'s [[Samajwadi Party]] and were declared the Fourth Front.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Poornima|title=Obituary {{!}} Ram Vilas Paswan (1946-2020): A man for all seasons|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/obituary-ram-vilas-paswan-1946-2020-a-man-for-all-seasons/article32806759.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|website=@businessline|language=en}}</ref> Paswan lost the elections from [[Hajipur]] to the [[Janata Dal (United)|Janata Dal]]'s Ram Sundar Das, a former [[Chief Minister]] of [[Bihar]] for the first time in 33 years.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ram Vilas Paswan|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/topic/ram-vilas-paswan|access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref> His party the [[Lok Janshakti Party]] was not able to win any seats in the [[15th Lok Sabha]], while his coalition partner Yadav and his party too failed to perform well and were reduced to 4 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan: Stalwart of socialist movement and Bihar's foremost Dalit leader|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-stalwart-of-socialist-movement-and-bihars-foremost-dalit-leader-2315838.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref>
Paswan was again given charge of the [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] in May 2014, which continued in [[Second Modi ministry]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/shrewd-politician-bjps-dalit-face-ram-vilas-paswan-to-head-ministry-of-consumer-affairs-in-modi-2-0-cabinet-2165097.html|title=Shrewd Politician, BJP's Dalit Face Ram Vilas Paswan to Head Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Modi 2.0 Cabinet|website=News18|date=31 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531092754/https://www.news18.com/news/politics/shrewd-politician-bjps-dalit-face-ram-vilas-paswan-to-head-ministry-of-consumer-affairs-in-modi-2-0-cabinet-2165097.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |work=[[Live Mint]] |date=31 May 2019 |access-date=2 June 2019 |archive-date=2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602015648/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2019 with the help of BJP though his own party had only 2 MLAs in the state assembly.


Paswan was elected as member of [[16th Lok Sabha]] after the [[2014 Indian general election]] from [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] constituency when he contested in alliance with BJP, while his son Chirag Paswan won from [[Jamui (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jamui]] constituency also in Bihar.<ref name=":2">{{cite web | title = LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, son Chirag Paswan win |work=Daily News & Analysis | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ljp-chief-ram-vilas-paswan-son-chirag-paswan-win-1989065|date=16 May 2014| access-date = 18 May 2014 }}</ref>
==Elections==


Paswan was again given charge of the [[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]] in May 2014, which continued in [[Second Modi ministry]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/shrewd-politician-bjps-dalit-face-ram-vilas-paswan-to-head-ministry-of-consumer-affairs-in-modi-2-0-cabinet-2165097.html|title=Shrewd Politician, BJP's Dalit Face Ram Vilas Paswan to Head Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Modi 2.0 Cabinet|website=News18|date=31 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/pm-modi-allocates-portfolios-full-list-of-new-ministers-1559288502067.html |work=[[Live Mint]] |date=31 May 2019 }}</ref> He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2019 with the help of BJP though his own party had only 2 MLAs in the state assembly.
{| class= wikitable width=60%
|-
! From
! To
! Position
! Constituency
|-
| 1969
| 1972
| [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] in the [[2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|5th Bihar Assembly]]
| [[Alauli Assembly constituency|Alauli]]
|-
| 1977
| 1980
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (1st term) in [[6th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 1980
| 1984
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (2nd term) in [[7th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 1989
| 1991
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (3rd term) in [[9th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 1991
| 1996
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (4th term) in [[10th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Rosera Lok Sabha constituency|Rosera]]
|-
| 1996
| 1998
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (5th term) in [[11th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 1998
| 1999
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (6th term) in [[12th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 1999
| 2004
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (7th term) in [[13th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 2004
| 2009
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (8th term) in [[14th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 2010
| 2014
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|MP]] (1st term) in [[Rajya Sabha]]
| [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Bihar|Bihar]]
|-
| 2014
| 2019
| [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] (9th term) in [[16th Lok Sabha]]
| [[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
|-
| 2019
| 2020
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|MP]] (2nd term) in [[Rajya Sabha]]
| [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Bihar|Bihar]]
|}
===Lok Sabha===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! Year
! Constituency
! colspan="2"|Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! colspan="2" |<small>Opponent Party</small>
! <small>Opponent Votes</small>
!  %
! <small>Result</small>
! Margin
! %
|-
! [[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
| rowspan="6"|[[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
| {{Party name with color|Lok Janshakti Party|rowspan=3}}
| 455,652
| 50.31
| <small>Sanjeev Prasad Toni</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 230,152
| 25.41
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 225,500
| 24.9
|-
! [[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
| 208,761
| 37.61
| <small>Ram Sundar Das</small>
| {{Party name with color|Janata Dal (United)|rowspan=2}}
| 246,715
| 44.44
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -37,954
| -6.83
|-
! [[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
| 477,495
| 61.72
| <small>Chhedi Paswan</small>
| 239,694
| 30.98
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 237,801
| 30.74
|-
! [[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
| {{Party name with color|Janata Dal (United)}}
| 434,609
| 55.75
| <small>Ramai Ram</small>
| {{Party name with color|Rashtriya Janata Dal}}
| 329,105
| 42.21
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 105,504
| 13.54
|-
! [[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
| {{Party name with color|Janata Dal|rowspan=4}}
| 486,350
| 60.58
| rowspan="2"|<small>Ram Sundar Das</small>
| {{Party name with color|Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)}}
| 308,789
| 38.46
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 177,561
| 22.12
|-
! [[1996 Indian general election|1996]]
| 387,781
| 51.59
| {{Party name with color|Samata Party|shortname=SAP}}
| 341,550
| 45.44
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 46,231
| 6.15
|-
! [[1991 Indian general election|1991]]
| [[Rosera Lok Sabha constituency|Rosera]]
| 373,710
| 62.3
| <small>Ashok Kumar</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 113,226
| 18.88
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 260,484
| 43.42
|-
! [[1989 Indian general election|1989]]
| rowspan="4"|[[Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency|Hajipur]]
| 615,219
| 84.08
| <small>Mahabir Paswan</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress (I)}}
| 110,681
| 15.13
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 504,538
| 68.95
|-
! [[1984 Indian general election|1984]]
| {{Party name with color|Lok Dal}}
| 263,509
| 44.89
| <small>Ram Ratan Ram</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 314,725
| 53.61
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -51,216
| -8.72
|-
! [[1980 Indian general election|1980]]
| {{Party name with color|Janata Party (Secular)}}
| 266,428
| 57.77
| <small>Medni Paswan</small>
| {{Party name with color|Janata Party}}
| 120,589
| 26.15
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 145,839
| 31.62
|-
! [[1977 Indian general election|1977]]
| {{Party name with color|Janata Party}}
| 469,007
| 89.3
| <small>Baleshwar Ram</small>
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 44,462
| 8.47
| {{yes2|Won}}
| 424,545
| 80.83
|}
===Rajya Sabha===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Position
! colspan="2" |Party
! <small>Constituency</small>
! From
! To
! Tenure
|-
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]<br><small>(1st Term)</small>
| {{Party name with color|Lok Janshakti Party|rowspan=2}}
| rowspan="2"|[[Bihar]]
| <small>8 July</small><br>2010
| <small>16 May</small><br>2014
| '''{{ayd|2010|7|8|2014|5|16}}'''
|-
| [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]<br><small>(2nd Term)</small>
| <small>29 June</small><br>2019
| <small>8 October</small><br>2020
| '''{{ayd|2019|6|29|2020|10|8}}'''
|}


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Paswan married Rajkumari Devi in 1960s. In 2014, he disclosed that he had divorced her in 1981, after his Lok Sabha nomination papers were challenged.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Madan |title=Ram Vilas Paswan discloses divorce with first wife |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Ram-Vilas-Paswan-discloses-divorce-with-first-wife/articleshow/34083143.cms |access-date=18 December 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=23 April 2014 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=Ram Vilas Paswan says he divorced first wife Rajkumari Devi in 1981 |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ram-vilas-paswan-says-he-divorced-first-wife-rajkumari-devi-in-1981/|work=IANS|date=22 April 2014|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref> Paswan had two daughters from first wife, Usha and Asha.<ref name="bp"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Tripathi|first=Piyush|date=14 September 2018|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/will-fight-against-dad-in-ls-polls-ram-vilas-daughter/articleshow/65800978.cms|title=Will fight against dad in Lok Sabha polls: Ram Vilas daughter|work=The Times of India|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> In 1982, he married Reena Sharma, an airhostess.<ref name="LSProfile"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110214/jsp/bihar/story_13578229.jsp|title=The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata) – Bihar – Political way to nurture love|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602064559/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110214/jsp/bihar/story_13578229.jsp|archive-date=2 June 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=14 February 2011|access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/137817/when-bihar-netas-were-bitten.html|title=When Bihar netas were bitten by love bug|work=Deccan Herald|date=14 February 2011}}</ref> They had a son and a daughter. His son [[Chirag Paswan|Chirag Kumar Paswan]] is an actor-turned-politician.<ref name="bp"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Suruchi |title=Arranged marriage for Chirag Paswan? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Arranged-marriage-for-Chirag-Paswan/articleshow/10629658.cms |access-date=13 April 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=7 November 2011 |language=en}}</ref>
Paswan married Rajkumari Devi in the 1960s. In 2014, he disclosed that he had divorced her in 1981, after his [[Lok Sabha]] nomination papers were challenged.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Madan |title=Ram Vilas Paswan discloses divorce with first wife |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Ram-Vilas-Paswan-discloses-divorce-with-first-wife/articleshow/34083143.cms |access-date=18 December 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=23 April 2014 |language=en |archive-date=5 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205125250/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Ram-Vilas-Paswan-discloses-divorce-with-first-wife/articleshow/34083143.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bp">{{cite web|title=Ram Vilas Paswan says he divorced first wife Rajkumari Devi in 1981|url=https://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ram-vilas-paswan-says-he-divorced-first-wife-rajkumari-devi-in-1981/|work=IANS|date=22 April 2014|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423192150/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ram-vilas-paswan-says-he-divorced-first-wife-rajkumari-devi-in-1981/|url-status=live}}</ref> Paswan had two daughters from first wife, Usha and Asha.<ref name="bp"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Tripathi|first=Piyush|date=14 September 2018|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/will-fight-against-dad-in-ls-polls-ram-vilas-daughter/articleshow/65800978.cms|title=Will fight against dad in Lok Sabha polls: Ram Vilas daughter|work=The Times of India|access-date=18 December 2019|archive-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915060900/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/will-fight-against-dad-in-ls-polls-ram-vilas-daughter/articleshow/65800978.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1983, he married Reena Sharma, an air hostess.<ref name="LSProfile"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110214/jsp/bihar/story_13578229.jsp|title=Bihar – Political way to nurture love|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602064559/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110214/jsp/bihar/story_13578229.jsp|archive-date=2 June 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=14 February 2011|access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kumar |first=Abhay |date=14 February 2011 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/137817/when-bihar-netas-were-bitten.html |title=When Bihar netas were bitten by love bug |work=Deccan Herald |access-date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025150132/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/137817/when-bihar-netas-were-bitten.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They had a son and a daughter. His son [[Chirag Paswan|Chirag Kumar Paswan]] is an actor-turned-politician.<ref name="bp"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Suruchi |title=Arranged marriage for Chirag Paswan? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Arranged-marriage-for-Chirag-Paswan/articleshow/10629658.cms |access-date=13 April 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=7 November 2011 |language=en |archive-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316231445/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Arranged-marriage-for-Chirag-Paswan/articleshow/10629658.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>


He was often called a dynast. He brought his brothers [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]] and [[Ram Chandra Paswan]] into politics. Of the six seats that the LJP won in 2019, three were from his family – son Chirag, and brothers Pashupati Kumar Paras and [[Ram Chandra Paswan]]. Ram Chandra's son [[Prince Raj]] succeeded his father upon his death.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=Sobhana K.|date=8 October 2020|title=Ram Vilas Paswan obituary {{!}} Dalit leader who wore many a hat|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-vilas-paswan-obituary-dalit-leader-who-wore-many-a-hat/article32807109.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
He was often called a dynast. He brought his brothers [[Pashupati Kumar Paras]] and [[Ram Chandra Paswan]] into politics. Of the six seats that the LJP won in 2019, three were from his family – son Chirag, and brothers Pashupati Kumar Paras and Ram Chandra Paswan. Ram Chandra's son [[Prince Raj]] succeeded his father upon his death.<ref name="Nair"/>


== Death ==
== Death ==
Paswan died on 8 October 2020, and his death was confirmed by his son, [[Chirag Paswan]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Union Minister and LJP patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan passes away|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ram-vilas-paswan-dead-ljp-6716310/|access-date=8 October 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}; {{Cite web|title=Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Days After Heart Surgery, Dies|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/union-minister-ram-vilas-paswan-dies-in-hospital-son-chirag-tweets-you-will-always-be-with-me-2307266|access-date=8 October 2020|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=iChiragPaswan|number=1314221533653467137|title=पापा....अब आप इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं लेकिन मुझे पता है आप जहां भी हैं हमेशा मेरे साथ हैं। Miss you Papa...|date=8 October 2020|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref> Paswan had undergone [[Cardiac surgery|heart surgery]] and was hospitalized for a few weeks prior to his death.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Consumer Affairs Minister, Dies at 74 Days After Undergoing Heart Surgery {{!}} LIVE|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/ram-vilas-paswan-dies-live-updates-union-consumer-affairs-minister-demise-at-74-days-after-undergoing-heart-surgery-at-delhi-hosp-2944599.html|access-date=8 October 2020|website=News18|language=en}}</ref> Paswan was cremated in Patna on 10 October 2020. His body was brought to Janardan Ghat in the Digha locality from his residence in Shri Krishna Puri, about 3 km away, for the last rites.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=10 Oct|first1=PTI / Updated|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=20:32|title=Ram Vilas Paswan, a man for all seasons in Indian politics, cremated in Patna {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-a-man-for-all-seasons-in-indian-politics-cremated-in-patna/articleshow/78591199.cms|access-date=10 October 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
Paswan died on 8 October 2020, and his death was confirmed by his son, Chirag Paswan.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 October 2020|title=Union Minister and LJP patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan passes away|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ram-vilas-paswan-dead-ljp-6716310/|access-date=8 October 2020|work=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011072835/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ram-vilas-paswan-dead-ljp-6716310/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Manish |last2=Sanyal |first2=Anindita |title=Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan Dies Days After Heart Surgery |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/union-minister-ram-vilas-paswan-dies-in-hospital-son-chirag-tweets-you-will-always-be-with-me-2307266 |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=NDTV. |date=9 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=iChiragPaswan|number=1314221533653467137|title=पापा....अब आप इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं लेकिन मुझे पता है आप जहां भी हैं हमेशा मेरे साथ हैं। Miss you Papa...|date=8 October 2020|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref> Paswan had undergone [[Cardiac surgery|heart surgery]] and was hospitalised for a few weeks prior to his death.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Consumer Affairs Minister, Dies Days After Heart Surgery at Delhi Hospital |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/ram-vilas-paswan-dies-live-updates-union-consumer-affairs-minister-demise-at-74-days-after-undergoing-heart-surgery-at-delhi-hosp-2944599.html |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=News18 |date=9 October 2020 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009194607/https://www.news18.com/news/politics/ram-vilas-paswan-dies-live-updates-union-consumer-affairs-minister-demise-at-74-days-after-undergoing-heart-surgery-at-delhi-hosp-2944599.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Paswan was cremated in Patna on 10 October 2020. His body was brought to Janardan Ghat in the Digha locality from his residence in Shri Krishna Puri, about 3&nbsp;km away, for the last rites.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=PTI |date=10 October 2020 |title=Ram Vilas Paswan, a man for all seasons in Indian politics, cremated in Patna |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-a-man-for-all-seasons-in-indian-politics-cremated-in-patna/articleshow/78591199.cms |access-date=10 October 2020 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011114054/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ram-vilas-paswan-a-man-for-all-seasons-in-indian-politics-cremated-in-patna/articleshow/78591199.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
[[File:Politicians campaing in Mumbai - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|thumb|Paswan together with [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] (center) and [[Amar Singh (Uttar Pradesh politician)|Amar Singh]] (left) at a party rally in [[Mumbai]] during the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general elections]].]]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Paswan's Delhi residence to pay homage to him. Also, senior leader and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav paid tribute to him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ram Vilas Paswan का निधन, कभी दारोगा की नौकरी छोड़ थामा था राजनीति का दामन, जानिए पूरी कहानी... |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/bihar-election-chunav-2020/bihar-election-2020-when-ram-vilas-paswan-became-mla-quit-joining-daroga-know-full-story-of-ljp-leader-political-history-skt |work=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi |date=8 October 2020 |access-date=28 June 2024 |archive-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522063529/https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/bihar-election-chunav-2020/bihar-election-2020-when-ram-vilas-paswan-became-mla-quit-joining-daroga-know-full-story-of-ljp-leader-political-history-skt |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
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* {{Twitter}}
* {{Twitter}}
* [http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=296&lastls=16 Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
* [http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=296&lastls=16 Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
* [https://hindi.oneindia.com/news/india/chirag-paswan-son-of-reena-sharma-she-was-ram-vilas-paswan-s-second-wife-371809.html Paswan Second Marriage Year 1983]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050228050740/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_771260,001600690000.htm Profile on HindustanTimes.com dated June 2004]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050228050740/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_771260,001600690000.htm Profile on HindustanTimes.com dated June 2004]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080417002042/http://164.100.24.209/newls/Biography.aspx?mpsno=296 Homepage on Lok Sabha website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080417002042/http://164.100.24.209/newls/Biography.aspx?mpsno=296 Homepage on Lok Sabha website]
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{{s-par|in-lwr}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Ramshekhar Prasad Singh]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ramshekhar Prasad Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] |years=1977 – 1984}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for Hajipur |years=1977 – 1984}}
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{{s-aft|after=[[Ram Ratan Ram]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Ram Ratan Ram]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Ram Ratan Ram}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] |years=1989 – 1991}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for Hajipur |years=1989 – 1991}}
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{{s-aft|after=[[Pitambar Paswan]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Ram Sundar Das]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Ram Sundar Das}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] |years=1996 – 2009}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for Hajipur |years=1996 – 2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ram Sundar Das]]}}
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{{s-break}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Hajipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hajipur]] |years=2014 – 2019}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for Hajipur |years=2014 – 2019}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Sunder Lal Patwa]] }}
{{s-bef|before=Sunder Lal Patwa }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]]|years=1 September 2001 – 29 April 2002}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]]|years=1 September 2001 – 29 April 2002}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers|Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers]]|years=23 May 2004 – 22 May 2009}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers|Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers]]|years=23 May 2004 – 22 May 2009}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[K. V. Thomas]]<br />Minister of State (Independent Charge)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]|years=26 May 2014 – present}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution]]|years=26 May 2014 – 8 October 2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Piyush Goyal]]}}
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{{s-ppo}}
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{{s-bef|before= Vacant}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Lok Jan Shakti Party]] in the [[Lok Sabha]]|years=2014 – 2019}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Lok Jan Shakti Party]] in the Lok Sabha|years=2014 – 2019}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Chirag Paswan]]}}
{{s-aft|after= Chirag Paswan}}
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}}
}}
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[[Category:16th Lok Sabha members]]
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[[Category:Bihar MLAs 1969–1972]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Lok Sabha]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Lok Sabha]]
[[Category:Ambedkarites]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Dalit activists]]
[[Category:Dalit activists]]
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:Dalit politicians]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi ministry]]
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[[Category:Railway ministers of India]]
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[[Category:Labour ministers of India]]
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[[Category:Steel ministers of India]]
[[Category:Coal Ministers of India]]
[[Category:Coal ministers of India]]
[[Category:Mining ministers of India]]
[[Category:Mining ministers of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]
[[Category:State funerals in India]]
[[Category:Lok Dal politicians]]

Latest revision as of 20:11, 12 March 2026


Ram Vilas Paswan
Paswan in 2017
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
In office
26 May 2014 – 8 October 2020
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded bySharad Pawar
Succeeded byPiyush Goyal
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
28 June 2019 – 8 October 2020
Preceded byRavi Shankar Prasad
Succeeded bySushil Kumar Modi
ConstituencyBihar
In office
8 July 2010[1] – 16 May 2014
ConstituencyBihar
Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers[1]
In office
23 May 2004 – 22 May 2009
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded bySunder Lal Patwa
Succeeded byM. K. Alagiri
Union Minister of Mines[1]
In office
1 September 2001 – 29 April 2002
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Preceded bySunder Lal Patwa
Succeeded byUma Bharti
Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology[1]
In office
13 October 1999 – 1 September 2001
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Preceded byAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Succeeded byPramod Mahajan
Leader of the House in Lok Sabha
In office
4 June 1996 – 4 December 1997
Prime MinisterH. D. Deve Gowda
Inder Kumar Gujral
Preceded byAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Succeeded byAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Union Minister of Railways[2]
In office
1 June 1996 – 19 March 1998
Prime MinisterH. D. Deve Gowda
Inder Kumar Gujral
Preceded byC. K. Jaffer Sheriff
Succeeded byNitish Kumar
Union Minister of Labour
In office
5 December 1989 – 10 November 1990
Prime MinisterVishwanath Pratap Singh
Preceded byBindeshwari Dubey
Succeeded byK. Chandrasekhar Rao
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
16 May 2014 – 23 May 2019
Preceded byRam Sundar Das
Succeeded byPashupati Kumar Paras
ConstituencyHajipur, Bihar
In office
10 May 1996 – 16 May 2009
Preceded byRam Sundar Das
Succeeded byRam Sundar Das
ConstituencyHajipur, Bihar
In office
22 June 1991 – 12 May 1996
Preceded byDasai Chowdhary
Succeeded byPitambar Paswan
ConstituencyRosera, Bihar
In office
28 November 1989 – 21 June 1991
Preceded byRam Ratan Ram
Succeeded byRam Sundar Das
ConstituencyHajipur, Bihar
In office
22 March 1977 – 28 December 1984
Preceded byRamshekhar Prasad Singh
Succeeded byRam Ratan Ram
ConstituencyHajipur, Bihar
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
1969 (1969) – 1972 (1972)
Preceded byMishri Sada
Succeeded byMishri Sada
ConstituencyAlauli
Personal details
Born(1946-07-05)5 July 1946
Khagaria, Bihar, British India
Died8 October 2020(2020-10-08) (aged 74)
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Political partyLok Janshakti Party
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)
Rajkumari Devi
​
(
m. 1969; div. 1981)
Reena Sharma
(
m. 1983⁠–⁠2020)
Children4 (including Chirag Paswan)
Alma materPatna University (M.A, LL.B)
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2021; posthumously)
As of 30 May, 2019
Source: [1]

Ram Vilas Paswan (5 July 1946 – 8 October 2020)[3] was an Indian politician from Bihar and the Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the first and second Modi ministries. Paswan was also the president of the Lok Janshakti Party, nine-times Lok Sabha member and two-time Rajya Sabha MP.[4] He started his political career as a member of Samyukta Socialist Party and was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1969. Paswan joined Lok Dal upon its formation in 1974, and became its general secretary. He opposed the emergency, and was arrested during this period. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977, as a Janata Party member from Hajipur constituency, and was elected again in the 1980, 1989, 1991 (from Rosera), 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014 elections.[5][6]

In 2000, Paswan formed the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) as its president. Subsequently, in 2004, he joined the ruling United Progressive Alliance government and remained a Union Minister in Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Steel. He was posthumously awarded India's third highest civilian award the Padma Bhushan in 2021.[7][8]

Known for holding cabinet positions under 7 governments, Paswan was known as the weatherman of Indian politics.[9] As of 2024, he is the longest-serving Union minister who was not a member of the Indian National Congress.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Paswan was born in a Dusadh family on 5 July 1946 in Shaharbanni, Khagaria district of Bihar to Jamun Paswan and Siya Devi.[10][11] Paswan held Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts degrees from Kosi College, Khagaria and Patna University.[12] He had been selected as a DSP in Bihar Police in 1969.[13][14]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Ram Vilas Paswan in his office after taking charge as the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers in New Delhi on 24 May 2004

Paswan was elected to the Bihar state legislative assembly in 1969[15] as a member of the Samyukta Socialist Party ("United Socialist Party") from Alauli, a reserved constituency. He lost 1972 Vidhan Sabha election from Alauli to Shri Mishri Sada of Congress.[16] In 1974, as an ardent follower of Raj Narain and Jayaprakash Narayan Paswan became the general secretary of the Lok Dal. He was personally close to the prominent leaders of anti-emergency like Raj Narain, Karpoori Thakur and Satyendra Narayan Sinha.[17]

In 1975, when emergency was proclaimed in India, Paswan was arrested and spent the entire period in jail. On being released in 1977, he became a member of the Janata Party[18] and won election to Parliament for the first time on its ticket from Hajipur with a record margin (later broken) of 424,000 and 89.3% votes which is perhaps an all-time record for general election in India. Former PM Narasimha Rao got a higher percentage of vote in a 1991 bye-poll. When Janata Party split in 1979, he joined Charan Singh's faction. Paswan was re-elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980 from Hajipur constituency as Janata Party (Socialist) candidate. In 1983, he established the Dalit Sena, an organisation for Dalit emancipation and welfare. The Dalit Sena was later headed by his brother Ram Chandra Paswan. Later it was renamed as Scheduled Caste sena in a vein similar to the Scheduled Caste federation established by Bhim Rao Ambedkar.[19] Paswan lost 1984 Lok Sabha election from Hajipur.[20]

Paswan was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 and was appointed Union Minister of Labour and Welfare in the Vishwanath Pratap Singh government.[6] He was elected to Lok Sabha from Rosera (Lok Sabha constituency) in 1991, the only time between 1977 and 2014 when he did not contest from Hajipur. In 1996, he won again from Hajipur, and he even led the ruling alliance or proposition in the Lok Sabha as the prime minister was a member of the Rajya Sabha. This was also the year when Paswan first became the Union Railway Minister. He continued to hold that post till 1998.[21] Thereafter, Paswan was the Union Communications Minister from October 1999 to September 2001 when he was shifted to the Coal Ministry, the portfolio he held till April 2002.[22]

In 2000, Paswan broke from the Janata Dal, to form the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). He resigned as minister and left the ruling NDA in 2002 after developing differences with BJP. Following the 2004 Lok Sabha elections,[21] Paswan joined the United Progressive Alliance government and was made the Union Minister in Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Steel.[23]

Ramvilas Paswan (extreme left), with Nitish Kumar (centre) and Narendra Modi, inspecting the inaugural Bihar Museum.

In the February 2005 Bihar State elections, Paswan's party LJP along with the Indian National Congress contested the election. The result was that no particular party or alliance could form a government by itself. However, Paswan consistently refused to support either Lalu Prasad Yadav, whom he accused of being extremely corrupt, or the right-wing National Democratic Alliance thereby creating a stalemate.[24] This stalemate was broken when Nitish Kumar succeeded in persuading 12 members of Paswan's party to defect; to prevent the formation of a government supported by LJP defectors, the Governor of Bihar, Buta Singh dissolved the state legislature and called for fresh elections, keeping Bihar under President's Rule.[25] In the November 2005 Bihar state elections, Paswan's third-alliance was utterly devastated; the Laloo Yadav-Congress alliance reduced to a minority and the NDA formed the new government.[26]

Paswan has declared that the Bihar state elections have no influence on the Central Government, which will continue with both him and Laloo Yadav as ministers. Paswan has served as a Union Minister under five different Prime Ministers and continuously held a cabinet berth in all the Council of Ministers formed since 1996 (as of 2015). He was also part of all the national coalitions (the United Front, the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance), which have formed the Indian Government from 1996 to 2015.[27]

2009 Indian general election[edit | edit source]

For the 2009 Indian general election Paswan forged an alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav and his Rashtriya Janata Dal, while dumping their erstwhile coalition partner and leader of the United Progressive Alliance, the Indian National Congress from the new alliance. The duo was later joined by Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party and were declared the Fourth Front.[28] Paswan lost the elections from Hajipur to the Janata Dal's Ram Sundar Das, a former chief minister of Bihar for the first time in 33 years.[5] His party the Lok Janshakti Party was not able to win any seats in the 15th Lok Sabha, while his coalition partner Yadav and his party too failed to perform well and were reduced to 4 seats.[26]

2010 assembly election[edit | edit source]

Paswan sitting with L.J.P. candidate Kapildev Singh from Asthawan in Nalanda during 2010 Bihar elections

Before the assembly elections to be held in 2010, Paswan was elected to the Rajya Sabha from the assembly, Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu fought the 2010 Bihar election together and also claimed to form the government in Bihar with two-thirds majority. They termed the Nitish B.J.P. government that has been running for 5 years as ineffective and accused Nitish of taking Bihar into trouble. The work of taking has been done due to which Bihar has lagged further behind. Accusing the N.D.A., he said that 30 percent of the voters in Bihar are fake and the government is also behind this.[29] Lalu's party RJD and Ram Vilas had fought this election together in alliance, in which L.J.P. fielded its candidates on 75 seats, while only 3 candidates could win, and could not even save the deposit on many seats. This performance of the party was less than the last election of 2005 Bihar election. The condition of the alliance was such that only 22 candidates could win for RJD. Seeing such poor performance of the party, Paswan and Lalu's Dalit, Muslim and backward politics took a new dimension.[30] [31] [32] [33]

2014 Indian general election[edit | edit source]

Paswan was elected as member of 16th Lok Sabha after the 2014 Indian general election from Hajipur constituency when he contested in alliance with BJP, while his son Chirag Paswan won from Jamui constituency also in Bihar.[34]

Paswan was again given charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in May 2014, which continued in Second Modi ministry in 2019.[35][36] He was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2019 with the help of BJP though his own party had only 2 MLAs in the state assembly.

Elections[edit | edit source]

From To Position Constituency
1969 1972 MLA in the 5th Bihar Assembly Alauli
1977 1980 MP (1st term) in 6th Lok Sabha Hajipur
1980 1984 MP (2nd term) in 7th Lok Sabha Hajipur
1989 1991 MP (3rd term) in 9th Lok Sabha Hajipur
1991 1996 MP (4th term) in 10th Lok Sabha Rosera
1996 1998 MP (5th term) in 11th Lok Sabha Hajipur
1998 1999 MP (6th term) in 12th Lok Sabha Hajipur
1999 2004 MP (7th term) in 13th Lok Sabha Hajipur
2004 2009 MP (8th term) in 14th Lok Sabha Hajipur
2010 2014 MP (1st term) in Rajya Sabha Bihar
2014 2019 MP (9th term) in 16th Lok Sabha Hajipur
2019 2020 MP (2nd term) in Rajya Sabha Bihar

Lok Sabha[edit | edit source]

Year Constituency Party Votes % Opponent Opponent Party Opponent Votes % Result Margin %
2014 Hajipur LJP 455,652 50.31 Sanjeev Prasad Toni INC 230,152 25.41 Won 225,500 24.9
2009 208,761 37.61 Ram Sundar Das JD(U) 246,715 44.44 Lost -37,954 -6.83
2004 477,495 61.72 Chhedi Paswan 239,694 30.98 Won 237,801 30.74
1999 JD(U) 434,609 55.75 Ramai Ram RJD 329,105 42.21 Won 105,504 13.54
1998 JD 486,350 60.58 Ram Sundar Das Samajwadi Janata Party 308,789 38.46 Won 177,561 22.12
1996 387,781 51.59 Samata Party 341,550 45.44 Won 46,231 6.15
1991 Rosera 373,710 62.3 Ashok Kumar INC 113,226 18.88 Won 260,484 43.42
1989 Hajipur 615,219 84.08 Mahabir Paswan INC(I) 110,681 15.13 Won 504,538 68.95
1984 Lok Dal 263,509 44.89 Ram Ratan Ram INC 314,725 53.61 Lost -51,216 -8.72
1980 Janata Party 266,428 57.77 Medni Paswan JP 120,589 26.15 Won 145,839 31.62
1977 JP 469,007 89.3 Baleshwar Ram INC 44,462 8.47 Won 424,545 80.83

Rajya Sabha[edit | edit source]

Position Party Constituency From To Tenure
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(1st Term) 		LJP Bihar 8 July
2010 		16 May
2014 		3 years, 312 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(2nd Term) 		29 June
2019 		8 October
2020 		1 year, 101 days

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Paswan married Rajkumari Devi in the 1960s. In 2014, he disclosed that he had divorced her in 1981, after his Lok Sabha nomination papers were challenged.[37][38] Paswan had two daughters from first wife, Usha and Asha.[38][39] In 1983, he married Reena Sharma, an air hostess.[10][40][41] They had a son and a daughter. His son Chirag Kumar Paswan is an actor-turned-politician.[38][42]

He was often called a dynast. He brought his brothers Pashupati Kumar Paras and Ram Chandra Paswan into politics. Of the six seats that the LJP won in 2019, three were from his family – son Chirag, and brothers Pashupati Kumar Paras and Ram Chandra Paswan. Ram Chandra's son Prince Raj succeeded his father upon his death.[21]

Death[edit | edit source]

Paswan died on 8 October 2020, and his death was confirmed by his son, Chirag Paswan.[43][44][45] Paswan had undergone heart surgery and was hospitalised for a few weeks prior to his death.[46] Paswan was cremated in Patna on 10 October 2020. His body was brought to Janardan Ghat in the Digha locality from his residence in Shri Krishna Puri, about 3 km away, for the last rites.[47]

Paswan together with Lalu Prasad Yadav (center) and Amar Singh (left) at a party rally in Mumbai during the 2009 general elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Paswan's Delhi residence to pay homage to him. Also, senior leader and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav paid tribute to him.[48]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Rajya Sabha members". National Informatics Centre, New Delhi and Rajya Sabha. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "List of Minister of Railways of India on Indian Railways Fan Club website". Indian Railways Fan Club. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ram Vilas Paswan, Dalit face at the Centre, dies after long innings". The Times of India. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.; "Ram Vilas Paswan, union minister, passes away at 74". mint. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ↑ Srivastava, Amitabh (5 July 2015). "Bihar elections: Ram Vilas Paswan remained a facilitator, never the face". India Today. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Ram Vilas Paswan". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Ram Vilas Paswan | Indian politician". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Padma Awards 2021 announced". Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Shinzo Abe, Tarun Gogoi, Ram Vilas Paswan among Padma Award winners: Complete list". The Times of India. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Mishra, Ashok (9 October 2020). "Ram Vilas Paswan, the 'Weatherman' of Indian Politics, Leaves Behind a Void Near Impossible to Fill". News18. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Current Lok Sabha Members Biographical Sketch". 19 June 2006. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Singh, Santosh (29 July 2015). "'Ram Vilas Dalit face wherever you go, Jitan Ram Manjhi can be Mahadalit face'". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "PIB :: Profiles". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  13. ↑ @irvpaswan (26 March 2016). "1969 मे मेरा DSP मे और MLA दोनो मे एक साथ चयन हुआ।तब मेरे एक मित्र नेपूछा कि बताओ Govt बनना है या Servant ?बस तभी मैंने राजनीति ज्वाइन कर ली" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 August 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ Srivastava, Amitabh (6 June 2019). "Ram Vilas Paswan: The Weather God". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "Ram Vilas Paswan: A kingmaker who outlasted many kings". The Economic Times. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Bihar Assembly Election Results in 1972". Elections in India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  17. ↑ Avinash (10 September 2015). "Bihar Assembly Elections 2015: Know your leader Profile - Ram Vilas Paswan". One India. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Total Revolution". archive. Archived from the original on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  19. ↑ Ahmed, Soroor (11 September 2018). "Bihar: Has Paswan lost his revolutionary zeal and love for Dalits?". National Herald. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "1984 India General (8th Lok Sabha) Elections Results". www.elections.in. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Nair, Sobhana K. (8 October 2020). "Ram Vilas Paswan obituary | Dalit leader who wore many a hat". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "Ram Vilas Paswan". India Today. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  23. ↑ PTI (31 May 2019). "Ram Vilas Paswan - New Cabinet Minister Who Has Worked Under 6 PMs". NDTV. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  24. ↑ Madhav, Sanjay Kumar & Neel (18 August 2020). "In Bihar, a balancing act: on poll alliances". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  25. ↑ Ramachandran, T. R (24 May 2005). "Bihar Assembly dissolved Nitish pre-empted; NDA cries foul". Tribune. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Ram Vilas Paswan: Stalwart of socialist movement and Bihar's foremost Dalit leader". Zee News. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  27. ↑ "Details of Member: Shri Ram Vilas Paswan". archive. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  28. ↑ Joshi, Poornima (8 October 2020). "Obituary | Ram Vilas Paswan (1946-2020): A man for all seasons". Business Line. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  29. ↑ "30 percent voters fake in Bihar- Paswan". The times of India. 25 September 2010.
  30. ↑ "Paswan-rudy wins Rajyasabha election from Bihar". The times of India. 17 June 2010.
  31. ↑ "Ramvilas paswan and Rjd chief Lalu joint press conference". The times of India. 18 November 2010.
  32. ↑ "The clash of 2010". India Today. 18 September 2010.
  33. ↑ "JDU Bjp alliance come back with two third majority". Aaj Tak. 24 November 2010.
  34. ↑ "LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, son Chirag Paswan win". Daily News & Analysis. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  35. ↑ "Shrewd Politician, BJP's Dalit Face Ram Vilas Paswan to Head Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Modi 2.0 Cabinet". News18. 31 May 2019. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  36. ↑ "PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers", Live Mint, 31 May 2019, archived from the original on 2 June 2019, retrieved 2 June 2019
  37. ↑ Kumar, Madan (23 April 2014). "Ram Vilas Paswan discloses divorce with first wife". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 "Ram Vilas Paswan says he divorced first wife Rajkumari Devi in 1981". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  39. ↑ Tripathi, Piyush (14 September 2018). "Will fight against dad in Lok Sabha polls: Ram Vilas daughter". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  40. ↑ "Bihar – Political way to nurture love". The Telegraph. 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  41. ↑ Kumar, Abhay (14 February 2011). "When Bihar netas were bitten by love bug". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  42. ↑ Sharma, Suruchi (7 November 2011). "Arranged marriage for Chirag Paswan?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  43. ↑ "Union Minister and LJP patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan passes away". The Indian Express. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  44. ↑ Kumar, Manish; Sanyal, Anindita (9 October 2020). "Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan Dies Days After Heart Surgery". NDTV. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  45. ↑ @iChiragPaswan (8 October 2020). "पापा....अब आप इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं लेकिन मुझे पता है आप जहां भी हैं हमेशा मेरे साथ हैं। Miss you Papa..." (Tweet). Retrieved 11 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  46. ↑ "Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Consumer Affairs Minister, Dies Days After Heart Surgery at Delhi Hospital". News18. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  47. ↑ "Ram Vilas Paswan, a man for all seasons in Indian politics, cremated in Patna". The Times of India. PTI. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  48. ↑ "Ram Vilas Paswan का निधन, कभी दारोगा की नौकरी छोड़ थामा था राजनीति का दामन, जानिए पूरी कहानी..." Prabhat Khabar (in हिन्दी). 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.

External links[edit | edit source]

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