From “Weatherman” to “Poor Guy”: How Lalu Yadav Paid a Heavy Price for His Clash with Ram Vilas Paswan

Politics in Bihar has heated up over the use of the word “poor guy.” During the state assembly session, LJP (Ram Vilas) members staged a loud protest, chanting slogans such as “RJD’s identity, insult to Dalits,” echoing through the house. The ruling party accused the opposition of being anti-Dalit.

The controversy erupted after RJD MLA Kumar Sarvjeet used the word “poor guy” to refer to former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. This is not the first time that Lalu Prasad Yadav’s party has clashed with Paswan. When Lalu was active in politics, he often tried to belittle Ram Vilas Paswan. Analysts say that Lalu’s misstep in 2013 significantly altered Bihar’s political landscape, as Paswan eventually parted ways with RJD to join the NDA, causing RJD major losses in subsequent Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, 2019, and 2024, LJP (now LJP-R) emerged as a stronger party than RJD in Bihar. Today, RJD risks repeating past mistakes.

Why Did Ram Vilas Paswan Break Away from Lalu Yadav?

The political fallout traces back to 2013. After the Gujarat riots and subsequent political developments, Ram Vilas Paswan had resigned from Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet in 2002 and had vowed never to join the BJP. However, an incident involving Lalu Prasad Yadav forced Paswan to reconsider this stance.

In October 2013, Lalu Yadav was convicted in the fodder scam. He lost his parliamentary membership, became ineligible to contest elections, and even went to jail. With the 2014 Lok Sabha elections just months away, Paswan, who was then allied with Lalu, visited him in Ranchi jail. According to Paswan, seeing Lalu’s condition brought tears to his eyes, and he encouraged him to stay strong.

Negotiations over seat allocations for the elections became tense. RJD offered LJP a maximum of three seats, which Paswan found unacceptable. Feeling sidelined, he sought intervention from Congress, the senior partner in the coalition, but received no support.

Chiranjeevi Paswan’s Role and NDA Entry

At this critical juncture, Chirag Paswan entered the scene. Despite his lack of political experience, he had closely observed contemporary politics and recognized Narendra Modi as a visionary leader. Convincing Ram Vilas Paswan to join the NDA, Chirag’s advice proved decisive. LJP’s entry into NDA turned into a major political turning point. The party won six of Bihar’s seven Lok Sabha seats, becoming the state’s second-largest party, while Lalu Yadav’s RJD was reduced to four seats and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) to two.

Ram Vilas Paswan: A Senior Leader in Bihar Politics

Ram Vilas Paswan was a senior and influential political figure in Bihar, even before Lalu Yadav rose to prominence. He became a legislator in 1969, while Lalu began his parliamentary career in 1977 and Nitish Kumar became a legislator in 1985. Paswan’s historic victory from Hajipur in 1977 earned him national recognition and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Despite his seniority, Lalu often mocked him, calling him the “weatherman.”

This political feud continues to shape Bihar’s politics, demonstrating that underestimating leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan carries long-term consequences.