Chirag Paswan’s rapid political rise culminates in his appointment as Minister of Food Processing in the Modi 3.0 Cabinet. Discover how the young Dalit leader and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief achieved a perfect strike rate in the 2024 elections and secured his place as a key ally in the NDA.
Chirag Paswan’s political rise can only be described as meteoric. Election victory with a record margin in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 has made the chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) the third most important ally for the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)].
On June 10, a day after taking the oath as a minister in Modi 3.0 government, Paswan has been given the Ministry of Food Processing, an important portfolio which in the Modi 2.0 government had been under Kiren Rijiju. His journey from political scion to key government minister has been a big and fast climb of this young man, whose clout in the political arena is only growing.
A Meteoric Rise
Success stories of the 2024 elections are undisputedly Chirag Paswan. The LJP Ram Vilas performed meritoriously as it won all five seats where it had fielded its candidates – Hajipur, Samastipur, Vaishali, Jamui, and Khagaria. This near-perfect strike rate helped him gain a Cabinet berth and emerge as the new Dalit icon in Bihar-brush aside many experienced politicians.
Paswan’s leadership was further reinforced after an election was held to elect him as the LJP (Ram Vilas) Parliamentary Party leader during a meeting at his Delhi residence on June 7. Since the death of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, in 2020 and the subsequent divide of the party into two factions — on one side, the National Lok Janshakti Party commanded by the late leader’s brother, Pashupati Kumar Paras, and on the other, the LJP (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan — this was a crucial development in his political career.
The ‘Hanuman of Modi’
In reaction to an interview with India Today, Chirag Paswan presented his case as the ‘Hanuman of Modi’ for the unquestioned loyalty he feels towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Due to his loyalty and dedication, he even got a big ministerial position.
He has vowed to discharge the responsibility given to him by the people with complete honesty and hard work.
He thanked the Prime Minister for reposing faith in him during the swearing-in. He said that he would carry on his duties in the interest of the nation toward furthering the goals of the Modi government.
The Road Ahead
As new Minister of Food Processing, Chirag Paswan will assume the reins of a sector that forms the very lifeline of the agrarian economy in India. The minister concerned has a challenging task on his hands as the ministry is responsible for ensuring promotion and development of food processing industries enhancing value addition of agricultural produce and generating employment in rural areas.
Paswan most likely to dwell on the policies that will rope in investment in the food processing industry, bring in better infrastructure, and trigger growth of the MSMEs involved in it. He would be at the forefront in bringing innovation and ensuring food safety-quality parameters while exploring the market for the processed food products within the country and outside.
This appointment of Chirag Paswan as a Minister of Food Processing stands as testimony to his growing influence and trust reposed in him by the leadership of the NDA. His political sojourn, laced with determination, strategic acumen vis-à-vis imparting shrewd expressions, stamps him as a major player on the Indian political canvas. As he embarks on this new assignment, all eyes shall be now riveted on Paswan to see how he exploits his new position to bring growth and development in the food processing sector, and by extension, the larger Indian economy.