Paswan to vacate his trusted Lok Sabha seat for wife

Health complications force Hajipur lawmaker to consider options

Indian federal minister Ram Vilas Paswan is likely to vacate his traditional Hajipur Lok Sabha seat in Bihar for his wife Reena Paswan.

Paswan, a prominent Indian Dalit leader and head of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), has represented this seat close to four decades.

Speculation about the federal minister — who holds the portfolio of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distributions — is doing the rounds as 72-yearold Paswan has not been keeping well of late and is grappling with several health complications.

One name suggested for his replacement was that of his son Chirag Paswan, a parliamentarian, but he appeared reluctant to quit his Jamui Lok Sabha seat and shift to Hajipur.

Subsequently, the name of Paswan’s younger brother Pashupati Kumar Paras also came in for discussion but he too expressed his inability to jump into the poll fray citing his current assignment.

Paras is currently Minister for Animal and Fish Resources in the Bihar government.