Chirag Paswan pays tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan in Lucknow
Synopsis
Union Minister Chirag Paswan paid floral tributes to his father Ram Vilas Paswan and B. R. Ambedkar at a birth anniversary celebration in Lucknow on 5 July 2026, reaffirming LJP(RV)'s Dalit-rights legacy beyond its Bihar base.
Key Takeaways
Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan attended the Ram Vilas Paswan Jayanti 2026 event in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 5 July 2026 .
He offered floral tributes at oil portraits of Padma Bhushan Ram Vilas Paswan and Bharat Ratna B.
Ram Vilas Paswan founded the Lok Janshakti Party in 2000 to advance Dalit and Mahadalit representation in Bihar.
The event was held in Lucknow , signalling LJP(RV)'s intent to expand its outreach into Uttar Pradesh's large Scheduled Caste electorate.
The pairing of both leaders' portraits underscores the party's ideological alignment with the Ambedkarite social-justice tradition.
Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday, 5 July 2026 offered floral tributes at portraits of his father and Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan and Bharat Ratna B. R. Ambedkar at a birth anniversary celebration held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Context
Posting on X, Chirag Paswan wrote: 'Aaj Uttar Pradesh ke Lucknow mein mere neta — mere pita, Party ke sansthapak, Padma Bhushan shraddhey Ram Vilas Paswan ji ki jayanti mahotsav ke pavan avsar par unki tailiya chitra evam Bharat Ratna Baba Sahab Bhim Rao Ambedkar ji ki tasveer par pushpanjali arpit kar ashirwad liya.' In English: 'Today in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary celebration of my leader — my father, founder of the party, Padma Bhushan Ram Vilas Paswan ji, I offered floral tributes at his oil portrait and at the portrait of Bharat Ratna Baba Sahab Bhim Rao Ambedkar ji and sought their blessings.' The minister shared four images from the event alongside the hashtags #RajneetiKeMahanayak and #RamVilasPaswanJayanti2026.
Ram Vilas Paswan was a towering figure in Indian politics, serving as a Union Minister across multiple governments and receiving the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to public life. He founded the Lok Janshakti Party in 2000 after breaking from the Janata Dal, aiming to carve out greater political representation for Dalit and Mahadalit communities in Bihar.
Policy Backdrop
The pairing of Ram Vilas Paswan's portrait with that of Bharat Ratna B. R. Ambedkar — chairman of the Constituent Assembly's drafting committee and the foremost icon of Dalit rights — is a deliberate ideological statement. For Bihar-origin caste-based parties operating within the National Democratic Alliance, annual commemorations of both leaders serve to reaffirm continuity with the social-justice tradition and consolidate support among Scheduled Caste voters.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan after the 2020–21 party split, remains a constituent of the NDA at the Centre. Holding the Food Processing Industries portfolio, Chirag Paswan has sought to blend administrative responsibility with sustained community outreach rooted in his father's legacy.
Stakeholders and Impact
The event in Lucknow — capital of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state — signals that LJP(RV) is consciously extending its messaging beyond its Bihar base. Uttar Pradesh has a substantial Scheduled Caste electorate, and a high-profile tribute event in the state capital carries clear political resonance for party workers and Dalit communities across the Hindi heartland.
For the rank and file of LJP(RV), the Jayanti celebration reinforces the party's founding narrative: that it exists to carry forward Ram Vilas Paswan's mission of social equity and Dalit empowerment within the framework of coalition governance.
What's Next
Observers will watch Chirag Paswan's subsequent engagements in Bihar for signals on candidate selection or seat-sharing discussions ahead of the next state assembly cycle. The choice of Lucknow as the venue for a foundational party event may also indicate a broader organisational push by LJP(RV) into Uttar Pradesh's political landscape in the months ahead.
Point of View
Such events serve a dual function: honouring a founding legacy while projecting himself as its natural — and nationally relevant — heir. The broader pattern suggests LJP(RV) is positioning itself for relevance in states beyond Bihar ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ram Vilas Paswan and why is his Jayanti celebrated?
Ram Vilas Paswan was the founder of the Lok Janshakti Party, a multiple-term Union Minister, and a Padma Bhushan awardee who championed Dalit and Mahadalit rights in India. His birth anniversary, or Jayanti, is observed annually by LJP(RV) workers and supporters to honour his political and social legacy.
Why was the Ram Vilas Paswan Jayanti 2026 held in Lucknow and not Bihar?
The event was held in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, signalling LJP(RV)'s effort to extend its political outreach beyond its traditional Bihar base to engage Scheduled Caste communities in India's most populous state.
What is the connection between Ram Vilas Paswan and B. R. Ambedkar?
Both Ram Vilas Paswan and B. R. Ambedkar are icons of the Dalit rights movement in India. LJP(RV) regularly pairs tributes to both leaders to reinforce its ideological commitment to Ambedkarite social justice and to consolidate support among Scheduled Caste voters.
What party does Chirag Paswan lead?
Chirag Paswan is the national president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), or LJP(RV), a Bihar-based party and constituent of the National Democratic Alliance that was founded by his father Ram Vilas Paswan in 2000.
What is Chirag Paswan's current government role?
Chirag Paswan serves as Union Minister of Food Processing Industries in the Government of India, in addition to leading the LJP(RV) as its national president.
