In pics: Remembering Union Minister and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan died aged 74 on Thursday (October 8, 2020). The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) patron had recently undergone heart surgery and was hospitalised for the last few weeks. The Union minister's death was confirmed by his son and LJP's chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Chirag Paswan.

 

Ram Vilas Paswan was the Cabinet minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Narendra Modi-led government. Regarded as one of the country's most noted Dalit leaders, he was active in politics for more than five decades.

 

 

(Photo credits: Twitter/@irvpaswan)

Paswan was born in the Shahbanni village of Khagaria district in Bihar and before entering politics, was reportedly selected as the Deputy Superintendent of Police in the State Police.

He entered the Vidhan Sabha in 1969 from the Alauli Vidhan Sabha seat of Khagria and was reportedly asked by the Janta Party to contest his first Lok Sabha Elections from Hajipur in 1977 which he won with a record-breaking margin. 

 

 

He first took a seat as a Union Cabinet Minister in the year 1989 and was the President of the Lok Janshakti Party for eighteen years since its inception in 2000. 

 

 

 

 

(Photo credits: Twitter/@irvpaswan)

According to LJP's official website, he was jailed in Emergency in 1975 and when he was released from the prison after 15 months in 1977, he was asked by the Janata Party to contest elections from Hajipur parliamentary constituency.

 

He has also been the founder of the 'Dalit Sena'. 

 

 

(Photo credits: Twitter/@irvpaswan)

In 2000, Paswan broke from the Janata Dal, to form the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Following the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Paswan joined the United Progressive Alliance government and was made the Union Minister in Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Steel.

 

 

(Photo credits: Twitter/@irvpaswan)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock over the death of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. The Prime Minister said that Ram Vilas Paswan's demise is a personal loss to him. He said to have lost a friend, a valued colleague, and someone who was extremely passionate to ensure every poor person leads a life of dignity.

 

 

 

(Photo credits: Twitter/@narendramodi)

Taking to social media, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "I am saddened beyond words. There is a void in our nation that will perhaps never be filled. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji’s demise is a personal loss. I have lost a friend, valued colleague and someone who was extremely passionate to ensure every poor person leads a life of dignity."

 

 

(Photo credits: Twitter/@narendramodi)

Recollecting his memories with Ram Vilas Paswan, PM Modi said, "Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji rose in politics through hard work and determination. As a young leader, he resisted tyranny and the assault on our democracy during the Emergency. He was an outstanding Parliamentarian and Minister, making lasting contributions in several policy areas."

 

 

(Photo credits: PTI)

PM Modi said, "Working together, shoulder to shoulder with Paswan Ji has been an incredible experience. His interventions during Cabinet Meetings were insightful. From political wisdom, statesmanship to governance issues, he was brilliant. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."

 

 

 

(Photo credits: ANI)

Chirag Paswan, the son of Ram Vilas, broke the news of the death of the Union Minister.  The 37-year old tweeted in Hindi, "Papa… Now you are not in this world but I know you are always with me wherever you are. Miss you Papa ..."

 

 

 

(Photo credits: ANI)

Paswan with Janata Dal (United) leader and incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (on his extreme right) and Bharatiya Janata Party's Sushil Kumar Modi who is currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.

 

 

 

(Photo credits: ANI)

Ram Vilas Paswan with Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal president, a former Bihar chief minister and an ex-union minister.

 

 

(Photo credits: PTI)