from Champaran to becoming Dy CM of Bihar ..

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi in India and is considered a historically important revolt in the Indian Independence Movement. It was a farmer's uprising that took place in Champaran district of Bihar, India, during the British colonial period. The farmers were protesting against having to grow indigo with barely any payment for it. When Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915, and saw peasants in northern India oppressed by indigo planters, he tried to use the same methods that he had used in South Africa to organize mass uprisings by people to protest against injustice.

Under Colonial-era laws, many tenant farmers were forced to grow some indigo on a portion of their land as a condition of their tenancy. This indigo was used to make dye. The Germans had invented a cheaper artificial dye so the demand for indigo fell. Some tenants paid more rent in return for being let off having to grow indigo. However, during the First World War the German dye ceased to be available and so indigo became profitable again. Thus many tenants were once again forced to grow it on a portion of their land- as was required by their lease. Naturally, this created much anger and resentment. 

In a scathing attack on leader Rahul Gandhi, senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari said that the Congress was the weak link in 'Mahagathbandhan' and it was responsible for the defeat of the RJD-led 'Mahagathbandan' in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly election. "Congress became a shackle for Mahagathbandhan. They had fielded 70 candidates but didn't hold even 70 public rallies. Rahul Gandhi came for three days, Priyanka [Gandhi Vadra] didn't come, those who were unfamiliar with Bihar came here. This is not right," Shivanand Tiwari told news agency ANI.

The Bihar Legislative Assembly election was held in three phases through October–November to elect members to the Seventeenth Bihar Legislative Assembly. The term of the previous Sixteenth Legislative Assembly of Bihar is scheduled to end on 29 November 2020. The election was held for a total of 243 seats.  The counting of votes began on 10 November 2020 and the incumbent National Democratic Alliance emerged as the winner with 125 elected MLAs, whereas the principal opposition coalition of Mahagathbandhan won 110 seats.  After the elections, the incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar and was sworn in again as Chief Minister, two new deputy Chief Ministers, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were inducted to the new ministry. 

West Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar, located just 60 km (37 mi) west of Birgunj. It is a part of Tirhut Division. The district headquarters are located in Bettiah. The district is known for its fluid border with Nepal.  Bettiah Vidhan Sabha constituency is an assembly constituency in Paschim Champaran district in the Indian state of Bihar.  

Sixty-two-years-old Renu Devi, from the Noniya community, on Monday, 16 November, took oath as one of Bihar’s two Deputy Chief Ministers along with Tarkishore Prasad, together replacing BJP’s Sushil Kumar Modi. Renu Devi is a four-time MLA from Bettiah, a former minister in Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet and a mother of two. Formerly the vice president of the BJP, Renu Devi on Sunday was chosen as the deputy leader of the BJP legislature in Bihar.  Renu Devi   joined the BJP in 1988 as a part of the women’s wing, rose to led the Champaran unit and later State’s   ‘Mahila Morcha’, and  vice president of the party in 2014. She contested her first election for the BJP in 1995 from the Nautan Assembly seat but faced defeat. She was elected in the 2020 elections from Bettiah for the fourth time, after winning thrice earlier in 2000, 2005 and 2010 elections.

Renu Devi was the Sports and Culture Minister in Nitish Kumar’s second Cabinet between 2005 and 2009. She was also a part of Amit Shah’s team while he was the BJP president.  Renu Devi’s mother was associated with the Sangh Parivar, hence she had an influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since her childhood.  

It is a party with difference as could be seen in recent times, where people with ordinary background and not from any dynasty too are rising in stature and are able to occupy top influential posts in governance.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
16.11.2020.