The veteran politician, who still holds the record for winning an election by the highest margin, had thrived on the issues of backward class and empowerment of Dalits during his heydays.
Over time, the issue has become synonymous with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Paswan's connect with the issue faded.
Paswan, 67, accused Mayawati of being an opportunist. "It is a matter of time. Once on the name of Mandal (commission) all backward classes were allied together. After its implementation, all of them separated and Mayawati was not even heard of then. But as they were empowered, with time more divisions at caste levels emerged."
"When she (Mayawati) needs them, she talks of Dalit. When she does not need, then she says 'Sarv-Dharm sammaan'," Paswan said.
The MP, who had emerged as a young turk post the mass movement under JP Narayan in late 70s, said, "Earlier, political parties studied and worked on ideologies. Now, that has stopped. People have become 'power driven'. Even the workers in the party see that when I am with you, am I getting any benefits or not?"
