Politics for Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad is a family enterprise

PATNA: Politics for both Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad is a family enterprise. Especially so for the former state chief minister as he's barred from standing for elections after having been convicted in the fodder scam.

For years, Paswan has been backing his two younger brothers -- Ram Chandar Paswan and Pasupati Kumar Paras. Now son Chirag, who's also dabbled in films as an actor, will be making his electoral debut this year. He's also being credited with persuading his father to ally the LJP with the BJP.

Prasad meanwhile has fielded wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti. He could not field son Tejaswi because at 24, he's still underage. The minimum age for contesting is 25 years.

When Prasad took over as chief minister in 1990, his two brothers-in-law, Sadhu Yadav and Subhas Yadav, wielded considerable clout both within the government and in the party and became parallel power centres in their own right. With the help of Prasad they went on to become MPs, with Sadhu making it to the Lok Sabha and Subhas the Rajya Sabha.

Prasad has picked Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti to stand on the RJD ticket from Saran and Patliputra, respectively.

Prasad had contested from both seats in 2009. But the decision to field his daughter has cost him with oncestaunch supporter Ram Kripal Yadav, rebelling to join the BJP. Both Prasad's sons – Tej Pratap and Tejaswi – are also actively engaged in politics. Paswan's brother Ramchander became an MP from Rosera, Paras, the state LJP chief, represented Alauli in the Vidhan Sabha for five terms.

While Ram Vilas is contesting from Hajipur, Ramchander will fight from Samastipur and Chirag from Jamui.