Ram Vilas Paswan: The man who predicted which side the political wind blew
By Administrator_ India
In Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s death, the country has lost a mausam vaigyanik or ‘weather vane’ of politics.
Perhaps no other leader was able to successfully predict the directions of political winds before taking the future course of action, like he was.
Among the first to condole the death was Paswan’s friend-turned-adversary Lalu Prasad Yadav who had given the mausam vaigyanik title to Paswan.
“I am very sorry to hear the sad news of the untimely demise of Rambilas Bhai. I am reminded of the unbroken relationship of the past 45 years and all the social, political battles. Rambilas brother, you left early. I am not in a position to say anything more than this,” Lalu Prasad Yadav wrote in a tweet.
Born in 1946 to a Dalit family in Shaharbanni village near Khagaria district of eastern Bihar, Paswan was active in politics for nearly five decades and will be remembered as one of country’s prominent Dalit leaders. He is also credited for his role in the implementation of Mandal Commission report, recommending reservation to backward classes, in August 1990.
The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet had undergone a heart surgery recently.
Paswan’s death comes close on the heels of Bihar Assembly Elections beginning October 28. With Lalu, 72, in jail, the two stalwart leaders of Bihar politics have left it for their sons to take the legacy from here.
His son Chirag, who announced the news of the 74-year-old leader’s death on October 8, is leading Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), founded by his father in 2000 after a split with the Janata Dal on the issue of joining the NDA. Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav is leading the Grand Alliance contesting against NDA in Bihar polls.
