Ram Vilas Paswan

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

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

Paswan was elected to the Bihar state legislative assembly in 1969{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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}}

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{{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}} 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.{{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 }} Paswan lost 1984 Lok Sabha election from Hajipur.{{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 }}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

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, Paswan joined the United Progressive Alliance government and was made the Union Minister in Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Steel.{{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}}

File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visiting the Bihar Museum, in Patna.jpg (centre) and Narendra Modi, inspecting the inaugural of 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.{{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}} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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}}

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.{{cite web

| url=http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php

| title=Details of Member: Shri Ram Vilas Paswan

| publisher=archive

| access-date=12 February 2009

| archive-date=12 February 2009

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212143215/http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php

| url-status=live

}}

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.{{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}} 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. 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.

File: 2010Ljp.jpg 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.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

{{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}}

{{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}}

{{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}}

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.{{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 }}

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.{{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}}{{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 }} 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 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.{{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 }}{{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}} Paswan had two daughters from first wife, Usha and Asha.{{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}} In 1983, he married Reena Sharma, an air hostess.{{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}}{{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 }} They had a son and a daughter. His son Chirag Kumar Paswan is an actor-turned-politician.{{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 }}

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.

Paswan died on 8 October 2020, and his death was confirmed by his son, Chirag Paswan.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} Paswan had undergone heart surgery and was hospitalised for a few weeks prior to his death.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }}

File:Politicians campaing in Mumbai - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg (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.{{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 }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Twitter}}
• [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/20080417002042/http://164.100.24.209/newls/Biography.aspx?mpsno=296 Homepage on Lok Sabha website]
• [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020505/edit.htm#5 Paswan Profile on TribuneIndia]
• [http://www.anindianmuslim.com/2008/03/ram-vilas-paswan-and-muslims.html Paswan and Indian Muslims]
• [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-vilas-paswan-passes-away/article32805992.ece Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan passes away]

{{Navboxes

|title=Political offices

|list1=

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-par|in-lwr}}

{{s-bef|before=Ramshekhar Prasad Singh}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Hajipur |years=1977 – 1984}}

{{s-aft|after=Ram Ratan Ram}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Ram Ratan Ram}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Hajipur |years=1989 – 1991}}

{{s-aft|after=Ram Sundar Das}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Dasai Chowdhary}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Rosera |years=1991 – 1996}}

{{s-aft|after=Pitambar Paswan}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Ram Sundar Das}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Hajipur |years=1996 – 2009}}

{{s-aft|after=Ram Sundar Das}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Ram Sundar Das}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Hajipur |years=2014 – 2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Pashupati Kumar Paras}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=C. K. Jaffer Sharief}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Railways|years=1 June 1996 – 19 March 1998}}

{{s-aft|after=Nitish Kumar}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Atal Bihari Vajpayee}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Communications and Information Technology|years=13 October 1999 – 1 September 2001}}

{{s-aft|after=Pramod Mahajan}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=Sunder Lal Patwa }}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Mines|years=1 September 2001 – 29 April 2002}}

{{s-aft|after=Uma Bharti }}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before= Sunder Lal Patwa }}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers|years=23 May 2004 – 22 May 2009}}

{{s-aft|after=M. K. Alagiri}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=K. V. Thomas
Minister of State (Independent Charge)}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution|years=26 May 2014 – 8 October 2020}}

{{s-aft|after=Piyush Goyal}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef|before= Vacant}}

{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Lok Jan Shakti Party in the Lok Sabha|years=2014 – 2019}}

{{s-aft|after= Chirag Paswan}}

{{s-end}}

}}

{{Navboxes

|list =

{{Indian federal ministries }}

{{Second Narendra Modi Cabinet}}

{{Cabinet of Narendra Modi}}

{{Second Manmohan Singh Cabinet}}

{{Energy Ministries and Departments of India}}

{{Ministry of Communications (India)}}

{{Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (India)}}

{{16th LS members from Bihar}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2020–2029}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paswan, Ram Vilas}}

Category:1946 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:Lok Janshakti Party politicians

Category:V. P. Singh administration

Category:India MPs 1977–1979

Category:India MPs 1980–1984

Category:India MPs 1989–1991

Category:India MPs 1991–1996

Category:India MPs 1996–1997

Category:India MPs 1998–1999

Category:India MPs 1999–2004

Category:India MPs 2004–2009

Category:Rajya Sabha members from Bihar

Category:India MPs 2014–2019

Category:Lok Sabha members from Bihar

Category:People from Khagaria district

Category:Samyukta Socialist Party politicians

Category:Janata Dal politicians

Category:Janata Party politicians

Category:Janata Dal (United) politicians

Category:Bihar MLAs 1969–1972

Category:Leaders of the Lok Sabha

Category:Dalit activists

Category:Dalit politicians

Category:Narendra Modi ministry

Category:Railway ministers of India

Category:Labour ministers of India

Category:Steel ministers of India

Category:Coal ministers of India

Category:Mining ministers of India

Category:Members of the Cabinet of India

Category:Lok Dal politicians