Ram Vilas divorced his first wife Raj Kumari Devi in 1981

Reena - Paswan's wife

Paswan has two daughters - Usha and Asha - from his first wife

Chirag born out of second wedlock 

PATNA: The controversy over LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan's marital status has taken a new turn after the former union minister disclosed before the authorities that he divorced his first wife Raj Kumari Devi way back in 1981.

Paswan's lawyers made this disclosure on Monday before the returning officer of Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency from where LJP chief is contesting election. JD (U) candidate's election agent Kanhaiya Prasad Singh had challenged Paswan's affidavit over his marital status during scrutiny of nomination papers. 

Paswan's first wife

Sources said, serious deliberations and counter arguments followed in the office of the returning officer at Hajipur after Singh, during scrutiny of nomination papers, told the RO that Paswan had not mentioned the name of his wife Raj Kumari Devi in his election affidavit. Singh also demanded cancellation of Paswan's nomination on that ground.

However, Paswan's lawyers produced before the RO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal the divorce document of 1981.

The issue of Paswan's first wife was raised by certain political parties last week when he didn't mention in the affidavit his first wife whom he had married in the 1960s. Raj Kumari was his wife when Paswan was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1977.

Like in the previous elections, this time also Paswan has mentioned the name of Reena Paswan as his wife. Paswan married Reena in 1983. Their son Chirag is now contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Jamui constituency.

However, Raj Kumari's name still exists as Paswan's wife in the electoral roll of Shaharbanni village under Alouli assembly segment of Khagaria Lok Sabha constituency.

At booth number 5 of Shaharbanni village, Paswan's name is entered at serial number 611 while 64-year-old Raj Kumari's name is at serial number 612, 53-year-old Reena Paswan's name is at 613, 34-year-old Nisha Paswan's name as his daughter at 614 and 32-year-old Chirag Kumar Paswan as his son at serial number 615. The voters' list categorically suggests that Paswan has two wives.

Paswan has two daughters - Usha and Asha - from his first wife. Both are married. Usha's husband Dhananjay Kumar and Asha's husband Anil Kumar are active in politics and both had unsuccessfully contested assembly elections on LJP tickets in 2010.