LIVE: Chirag collapses after lighting father Ram Vilas Paswan's pyre

19:30 October 10

Chirag collapses after lighting father Ram Vilas Paswan's pyre

The burden of grief, at a juncture that might be most critical in his political career, proved too much for Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan who
fell unconscious after lighting the funeral pyre of his father Ram Vilas Paswan here on Saturday.
         

The 37-year-old lawmaker has been a picture of bereavement ever since his father breathed last at a Delhi hospital on Thursday.
         

Chirag, known to be a dutiful son who even played the barber for his father during the nationwide lockdown, raised a banner of revolt against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), announcing the stunning decision to go solo in the assembly polls, while spending most of his time beside Paswan
senior's hospital bed.
         

He wept when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited their Delhi residence to pay his last respect.
         

Chirag wailed inconsolably on Saturday morning when BJP MP and former minister Ram Kripal Yadav, who has known Chirag since he was a child, visited their Patna house. Yadav was also moved to tears and the two stood for some time, holding each other tightly.

17:34 October 10

Ram Vilas Paswan, a man for all seasons in Indian politics, cremated in Patna

The mortal remains of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, a man for all seasons and one of the tallest leaders spawned by the Dalit community, were
consigned to flames in Patna on Saturday with full state honours.
         

A sea of people could be seen, besides dignitaries led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, at the cremation site on the banks of the Ganges in the city that has been a witness to the Lok Janshakti Party founders long journey - from a young MLA of the socialist party in the late 1960s to having served under six prime ministers.
         

A large number of supporters had come to the Digha ghat from his pocket borough Hajipur, situated right across the river, which Paswan had nurtured since his Lok Sabha debut in 1977 when he won with a record margin.

16:41 October 10

Ram Vilas Paswan cremated with full state honours

Last rites ceremony of Ram Vilas Paswan was performed by his son Chirag Paswan, at Digha ghat in Patna. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad & Nityanand Rai, Deputy CM Shushil Modi & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were also present

16:17 October 10

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Deputy CM Sushil Modi paid tributes to Ram Vilas Paswan

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad laid a wreath and paid tribute to late Ram Vilas Paswan, on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier today

16:14 October 10

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar paid tributes to the Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan

16:09 October 10

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav pays tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav pays tribute to Ram Vilas Paswan at Digha ghat in Patna

13:04 October 10

Ram Vilas Paswan's mortal remains being taken for funeral

Huge crowds, including political leaders gathered outside the residence of Ram Vilas Paswan in Patna as his mortal remains were being taken for the last rites. The Union Minister will be accorded a state funeral at Patna's Digha ghat later today.

12:26 October 10

Paswan to be accorded state funeral

Patna (Bihar): Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan will be accorded a state funeral at a ceremony in Patna on Saturday.

Paswan (74), died at a private hospital in the national capital on  October 8 after recently undergoing a heart surgery.

Born on July 5, 1946, in Shaharbanni in Bihar's Khagaria district, Paswan was educated at Kosi College, Khagaria and Patna University. He obtained degrees in Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Law (LLB). He was also conferred the Degree of D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) by Bundelkhand University, Jhansi.

Paswan was one of the most popular leaders from Bihar and enjoyed strong mass support. He was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1969 as a member of the Samyukta Socialist Party.

Thereafter, he was elected as a member of the sixth Lok Sabha from Hajipur constituency in 1977 with a record margin. He was re-elected to the seventh Lok Sabha in 1980 and the eighth in 1984.

Paswan was re-elected to the ninth Lok Sabha in 1989 and appointed as the Union minister for labour and welfare. In 1996, he became the minister for railways and continued to hold the post till 1998.

He later served as the minister for communications from October 1999 to September 2001, when he was made the minister of coal and mines, a portfolio he held till April 2002.

After the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Paswan joined the United Progressive Alliance government and was made the minister of chemicals and fertilisers and minister of steel.

He was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014 and served as the minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution. In 2019, he was elected to Rajya Sabha and continued as the minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

Paswan was considered the voice of the oppressed and always championed the cause of marginalised sections of the society, the resolution said.

(With inputs from agencies)