CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan on death anniversary
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the death anniversary of one of India's most iconic Dalit leaders, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paused to honour a legacy that shaped the country's political conscience. Taking to X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Choudhary paid homage to Ram Vilas Paswan, founder of the Lok Janshakti Party and former Union Minister, saluting his lifelong crusade for social justice and the rights of the marginalised.
Writing in Hindi, Choudhary offered 'sadar naman' — a respectful bow — to the late leader, stating: 'His dedication and struggle for social justice and the rights of the deprived will always be remembered.' The tribute, accompanied by an image, carried the hashtag #RamVilasPaswan.
The man Bihar never forgot
Ram Vilas Paswan was one of post-Independence India's most enduring political figures — a seven-time Member of Parliament whose career spanned decades and multiple coalition governments at the Centre. Born into a Dalit family in Bihar, he became a defining voice for the most marginalised communities, serving in key Union Cabinet roles under governments across the ideological spectrum. He passed away on October 8, 2020, at the age of 74.
Paswan's political philosophy rested on a singular conviction: that constitutional guarantees for the poor and the oppressed must translate into everyday reality. He founded the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), which remains a significant force in Bihar's coalition politics. His son, Chirag Paswan, now leads the party and currently serves as a Union Cabinet Minister.
Why the tribute carries political weight in Bihar
For Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary — himself a senior BJP leader — honouring Paswan is more than ceremonial. The LJP has been a key NDA ally in Bihar, and Paswan's memory remains deeply venerated among Dalit and EBC (Extremely Backward Class) communities across the state. In a state where social identity drives electoral arithmetic as much as any policy platform, remembering Paswan publicly reinforces the NDA coalition's shared commitment to the social-justice plank he championed.
Six years after his passing, Ram Vilas Paswan's name still functions as a moral reference point in Bihar's politics — and no leader seeking to govern the state can afford to let that anniversary pass in silence.