Ram Vilas Paswan: Rare photos from Indian Express Archives

Union Minister and LJP patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan passed away Thursday evening. He was 74.(Express archive photo)

Paswan underwent heart surgery last week and was due to undergo another one in a few days. The Union minister was in a critical condition with multiple organ complications. In pic: Paswan inaugurating the tripartite meeting in New Delhi on November 12, 2001. Ravi Shankar Prasad is also seen in the picture. (Express archive photo)

Calling it a personal loss, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “I am saddened beyond words. There is a void in our nation that will perhaps never be filled. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji’s demise is a personal loss.” (Express archive photo)

He had been in active politics for more than five decades and was one of the country's most noted Dalit leaders. (Express archive photo)

Last month, Paswan had said that he stood “firmly” with his son Chirag, and that he had “full faith that Chirag will take Bihar to new heights”. (Express archive photo)

An eight-time Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha, Paswan went to jail during Indira Gandhi’s tenure when an emergency was imposed in the country. (Express archive photo)

He began his political career as a member of the Samyukta Socialist Party and in 1969 became a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. In pic: Ram Vilas Paswan requesting VP Singh to join other leaders on the Dias at Janta Dal national executive meeting in New Delhi. (Express archive photo by Ravi Batra)

He had formed LJP in 2000 and joined Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in 2004. In pic: Former PM VP Singh with former Union Minister of Labour and Welfare Ram Vilas Paswan (L) and Laxmi Chand Jain, Member, Planning Commission, in New Delhi. (Express archive photo)

A Dalit leader from Bihar, Ram Vilas Paswan was serving as the Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution in the Narendra Modi-led NDA government. In pic: Former PM H D Deve Gowda along with Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad Yadav in New Delhi. (Express archive photo)

Paswan had served as a Union Minister under five prime ministers and his party has been a member of all national coalitions. In pic: Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav hugging after meeting Ram Vilas Paswan at Bihar Bhawan in 1996. (Express photo by Praveen Jain)