Poll-savvy Paswan debuted with Rs 250

PATNA: LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who is seen as one of the richest full-time politicians, had began his political career four decades back with just Rs 250 in his pocket. He contested his debut election in 1969 largely with the help of public donations.
Paswan, who won seven Lok Sabha elections since 1977 and now a member of the Rajya Sabha, himself spent crores on his election and also distributed several crores among candidates in the ongoing and previous elections.
"Actually my father, Jamun Paswan, gave me Rs 250 after I cleared the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Exam for Bihar Police Service for the post of deputy superintendent of police (DSP). He had asked me to buy some dry fruits to improve my health," Paswan said in an interview to TOI. "I misutilised that money," he said with a laugh.
It was 1969 and politics was not on his agenda. He was almost ready to don khaki but for some of his friends he was more suited for politics. He said his friends, including Laxmi Narayan Arya, Ram Badan Mukhiya, Motilal Mehta, Nazrul Hasan, Bhagirath Sharma, Ram Krishna Mukhia, Anandi Mukhia, Ran Nandan Singh, Anand Paswan, started pestering him to fight the elections from Alauli Khagaria.
"Nazrul Hasan is the person who introduced me to politics," said 63-year-old Paswan. He added that he purchased an Avon bicycle which helped him a lot during campaigns.
In that election, he was given a ticket by the Sanjukta Socialist Party and he was pitted against Congress stalwart Misri Sada. "After I declared my intention to contest elections, I received a donation of Rs 250 at Raun village in Alauli," he recalled.
From this donation, he hired a rickshaw and got it fitted with a loudspeaker. His friends would move around in this rickshaw to campaign for him.
From Rs 250, 40 years ago, Paswan's assets have shot up to eight digits. He has assets worth Rs 4 crore, and fixed and savings bank accounts worth Rs 50 lakh as per his affidavit filed a few months back when he was contesting the Rajya Sabha polls.
Paswan has been keeping at least one helicopter at his disposal during elections. In the ongoing assembly polls, he has fielded 75 candidates. In October/November 2005, assembly polls, LJP put up 204 candidates. Needless to say the party gives financial aid to each candidate. They say funds come from different sources, including public donations.