Ram Vilas Paswan
Ramvilas Paswan of the Lok Jan Shakti party is a Member of Parliament from Hajipur parliamentary constituency of Bihar.
Ramvilas Paswan of the Lok Jan Shakti party is a Member of Parliament from Hajipur parliamentary constituency of Bihar. Paswan's name had figured in the Guinness Book of World Record for winning the parliamentary election with the highest number of votes.
Paswan became a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1969. In 1974, he became the general-secretary of the Lok Dal and held that post again between 1985-86. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1977 and re-elected to 7th Lok Sabha (2nd term) in 1980. Between 1987-88 he was the general secretary of the Janata Party and in 1988 secretary, National Front.
Paswan was re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (3rd term) in 1989. He was then inducted into the Union Cabinet as Labour and Welfare minister. He was re-elected to the 10th Lok Sabha (4th term) in 1991 and to the 11th Lok Sabha (5th term) in 1996. He was also the Leader of the Lok Sabha in 1996 as both the prime ministers were members of the Rajya Sabha.
He became the Railways minister in 1996 and held that portfolio till 1998. He was re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (6th term) in 1998 and to 13th Lok Sabha (7th term) in 1999.
Paswan became the Union Communications minister on October 13, 1999 and continued till September 1, 2001. He then moved on to become the Coal and Mines minister. He held that portfolio till April 29, 2002.