Union Minister and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan passes away at 74

His son, Chirag Paswan, in a tweet, informed that the 74-year-old Union Minister was undergoing treatment at Delhi's Fortis hospital after he had to undergo surgery "due to the situation that had suddenly emerged."

In an emotional tweet, sharing a throwback image of himself with a much younger Paswan, Chirag wrote: "Papa...you are no more in this world but I know you will always be with me wherever you are. Miss you Papa..."

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, who was born in a Dalit family on 5 July 1946 in Shaharbanni, in Khagaria district of Bihar, was a prominent Dalit leader from the eastern state.

Condoling his death, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted: "In the demise of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, the nation has lost a visionary leader. He was among the most active and longest-serving members of parliament. He was the voice of the oppressed, and championed the cause of the marginalized."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief at the passing away of Paswan and wrote: "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."

His political career had spanned over five decades. He first became an MLA in 1969. He was a union minister under different prime ministers of India for several times.

He was a member of the Lok Dal when it was formed in 1974, and went on to become its general secretary. He also spent time in jail during the Indian Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975.

He first became a Lok Sabha member in 1977, as a Janata Party member from Hajipur constituency. He won from there again in 1980, 1989, 1996 and 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2014.

In 2000, Paswan formed the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and in 2004, he joined the ruling United Progressive Alliance government led by Congress and remained a Union Minister in Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Ministry of Steel.

After a defeat in polls, he was again elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Hajipur constituency in 2014. 

In the successive Modi governments since 2014, he became the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

A flurry of tweets poured in across party lines expressing tributes for the departed politician.

Condoling Paswan's demise, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote that the marginalised and Dalit sections lost a strong political voice today.

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh also condoled the demise in a tweet.