CM Yogi pays tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan in Lucknow
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath joined Governor Anandiben Patel in Lucknow to pay tribute to former Union Minister and Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Vilas Paswan on his death anniversary, honouring his Ambedkarite legacy.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath attended a condolence gathering in Lucknow on 8 October 2026 on Ram Vilas Paswan's death anniversary.
Governor Anandiben Patel was also present at the event, adding institutional significance.
Floral tributes were offered at Ram Vilas Paswan's portrait.
CM Yogi described Paswan as someone who dedicated his life to realising Dr B.R.
Ambedkar's vision of India.
Ram Vilas Paswan was a 'Padma Bhushan' awardee and former Union Minister who championed Dalit rights across multiple governments.
A garland of flowers placed on a portrait — and a life devoted to the most marginalised. On Thursday, 8 October 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined Governor Anandiben Patel at a condolence gathering in Lucknow to mark the death anniversary of former Union Minister and 'Padma Bhushan' awardee Ram Vilas Paswan, offering floral tributes at his portrait.
In a post on X, CM Yogi wrote: 'Ramvilas Paswan ji ki smritiyon ko naman' — salutations to the memory of Ram Vilas Paswan — honouring a leader he described as one who 'dedicated his entire life to realising the India envisioned by 'Bharat Ratna' Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.'
Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy and the Ambedkarite thread
Ram Vilas Paswan was one of independent India's most durable Dalit political voices, serving in Union Cabinets across governments of starkly different ideological hues — a testament to both his political acumen and his enduring social credibility. He held portfolios ranging from Food and Consumer Affairs to Chemicals and Fertilisers, wielding those offices repeatedly as instruments of welfare for backward and Dalit communities.
Paswan consistently anchored his politics in the constitutional vision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar — social justice, representation, and the dismantling of caste hierarchy — making the Ambedkar reference in CM Yogi's tribute more than ceremonial. It frames Paswan within a lineage that cuts across party lines and resonates deeply in Uttar Pradesh, a state where Dalit and OBC constituencies are electorally decisive.
Governor Anandiben Patel's presence in Lucknow
The joint appearance of CM Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel at the condolence gathering added institutional weight to the occasion. Governor Patel, who has presided over Raj Bhavan in Lucknow, has previously participated in state-level commemorative events alongside the Chief Minister, signalling cross-constitutional solidarity on matters of social significance.
The tribute, marked by photographs of the two officials at Paswan's portrait, underscores the BJP-led state government's continued effort to claim the legacy of Dalit icons — a political and cultural exercise that has become a recurring feature of governance communication in Uttar Pradesh.
Ram Vilas Paswan may be gone, but the contest to carry his legacy forward — who belongs to his tradition, who builds the India Ambedkar imagined — is very much alive.
Point of View
Honouring his memory also reinforces alliance solidarity. The Governor's joint presence elevates the occasion beyond routine party ritual into a state-sanctioned commemoration, lending it constitutional gravitas. In the political grammar of UP, where caste arithmetic shapes every electoral cycle, such symbolic acts carry weight that extends well beyond the ceremonial.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ram Vilas Paswan?
Ram Vilas Paswan was a veteran Indian politician and Dalit leader who served as a Union Minister in multiple governments. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and was the founder of the Lok Jan Shakti Party, known for championing Dalit and backward community rights.
When did CM Yogi attend Ram Vilas Paswan's death anniversary event?
CM Yogi Adityanath attended the condolence gathering on Thursday, 8 October 2026 , in Lucknow .
Who else attended the Ram Vilas Paswan tribute in Lucknow?
Governor Anandiben Patel attended the event alongside CM Yogi Adityanath, with both offering floral tributes at Paswan's portrait.
What is Ram Vilas Paswan's connection to Dr B.R. Ambedkar?
Paswan consistently grounded his politics in the Ambedkarite tradition of social justice and Dalit empowerment. CM Yogi's tribute specifically cited Paswan's lifelong commitment to building the India envisioned by 'Bharat Ratna' Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar .
What award did Ram Vilas Paswan receive?
Ram Vilas Paswan was conferred the Padma Bhushan , one of India's highest civilian honours, in recognition of his decades of public service.
