Chirag Paswan, the dynamic leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and son of the late political stalwart Ram Vilas Paswan, has captured the nation’s attention. His social media following recently surged past 3.3 million on Instagram, and hundreds of reels about him have made him the “national crush.” Paswan’s political rise has been equally impressive, marked by his recent appointment as the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
On June 10, 2024, Chirag Paswan was sworn in as the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries. Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, Paswan stated, “This is a huge responsibility for me… I will ensure that I fulfill this responsibility with full honesty and hard work… The credit for this goes to the Prime Minister. He had so much faith in a party with a single MP and gave it five seats… I have also given them all five seats by winning them.”
Chirag Paswan’s political journey has been nothing short of meteoric. After a resounding victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Paswan emerged as one of the BJP’s most important allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), alongside the TDP and JD(U). His leadership and strategic acumen have significantly elevated his party’s status in national politics.
Born on October 31, 1982, Chirag Paswan is an Indian politician and former actor. He has served as the 19th Minister of Food Processing Industries since 2024 and has been the first president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) since 2021. Before this, he was the second president of the Lok Janshakti Party from 2019 to 2021 and has been a Member of Parliament for the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency since 2024.
Chirag Paswan’s early life was deeply influenced by his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, a former Union Minister and the founder of the Lok Janshakti Party. His mother, Reena Sharma, is a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin from Amritsar. Initially pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering, Chirag dropped out during his third semester. He ventured into acting, starring opposite Kangana Ranaut in the 2011 Hindi movie “Miley Naa Miley Hum.”
Paswan’s political career took off in 2014 when he contested and won the Lok Sabha elections from the Jamui constituency, defeating his nearest rival by over 85,000 votes. He retained his seat in the 2019 elections with a substantial margin, securing 528,771 votes.
In addition to his political roles, Chirag Paswan founded an NGO named “Chirag Ka Rojgar,” aimed at providing employment opportunities to the youth of Bihar. His commitment to his constituents and his vision for development were evident when he launched the “Bihar First, Bihari First” campaign ahead of the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections, advocating for comprehensive development and making Bihar a leading state.
Chirag has also been active in social causes. In February 2021, he donated ₹1.11 lakh for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, emphasizing the duty of every citizen to contribute to such significant causes. His leadership faced challenges in June 2021 when he was replaced as the Lok Sabha leader of the LJP by his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras. However, Chirag remained resilient, expelling five rebel MPs, including his uncle and cousin, for anti-party activities.
Chirag Paswan’s recent appointment as Union Minister marks a significant milestone in his career. His dedication to public service, combined with his rising popularity on social media, has positioned him as a prominent and influential personal brand in Indian politics. As he steps into his new role, the nation watches with keen interest, anticipating the positive changes he will bring to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and beyond.
