.. As the son of late Ram Vilas Paswan, a prominent political figure, Mr. Paswan acknowledged the advantages and challenges associated with his lineage.
Mr. Paswan, currently serving as the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries in Modi 3.0, expressed pride in his family background while acknowledging the dual-edged nature of being perceived as a beneficiary of nepotism. “I am a nepo kid, I can’t shy away from that fact. I am proud that I am the son of Ram Vilas Paswan. For me, it is a matter of pride,” he stated.
Reflecting on the complexities, Mr. Paswan highlighted how perceptions of nepotism impact his political journey. “If you do good work, people say that it is because of your parents. So the credit is not yours. But if you do bad, then you will hear abuses. So you are always on a double-edged sword,” he added.
Despite his inherited privilege, Mr. Paswan emphasized that his ascent within the LJP was not automatic, especially following the internal rift within the party led by his uncle, Pashupati Paras. The split saw significant political repercussions, particularly in Bihar’s Hajipur constituency, traditionally a stronghold of the Paswan community.
“In the aftermath of the split, I lost everything – the party, the symbol, the organization, and the house we stayed in for three decades,” Mr. Paswan recounted. “I had to start from scratch; I did not even know how to form a new party.”
Undeterred by challenges, Chirag Paswan forged ahead, contesting the 2020 Bihar assembly elections independently, albeit within the NDA alliance. His leadership and the “Ashirwad Yatra” campaign strategy proved pivotal, leading to a resounding victory in all five seats contested by his party, making it the only NDA partner with a 100 per cent win rate in the 2024 polls.
Mr. Paswan remains a steadfast supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring his commitment to the NDA alliance while navigating the intricacies of familial influence in politics.
