Bima Bharti

Bima Bharti (born 1 January 1973^[1]) is an Indian politician and the former Minister of Sugarcane Industries in the Government of Bihar. She is a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal since 2024 after leaving Janata Dal (United). She is a member of Bihar Legislative Assembly elected as the representative of the Rupauli constituency 4 times from November 2000 onward. Shankar Singh had defeated her in February 2005 but she was re-elected again in October 2005.

Bima Bharti
Minister of Sugarcane industries, Bihar
In office 3 June 2019 – 16 Nov 2020
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2005
Preceded by	Shankar Singh
Constituency	Rupauli
In office November 2000 – February 2005
Preceded by	Bal Kishore Mandal
Succeeded by	Shankar Singh
Constituency	Rupauli
Personal details
Born	(1973-01-01) 1 January 1973 (age 51)
Political party	Rashtriya Janata Dal (2024 – present)
Other political affiliations	Janata Dal (United) (? – 2024)
Spouse	Awadhesh Mandal

Political career

Bima Bharti began her political career in 2000.^[1] She contested as an independent candidate from the Rupauli constituency and was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly.^[2] Subsequently, she became a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.^[3] In the February 2005 election, she lost the seat to Shankar Singh of the Lok Janshakti Party but in the following October election, she was able to win back the seat.^[4] She subsequently quit the Rashtriya Janata Dal and joined the Janata Dal (United) before the 2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.^[5] She was re-elected in 2010 and again in 2015 as a member of the Janata Dal (United).^[6][7]She has resigned from Janata Dal (United) and joined Rastriya Janta Dal (RJD) ahead of 2024 genral election.

Personal life

Bharti is married to Awadhesh Mandal who was convicted of intimidation of witnesses in a murder case.^[8][9] In January 2015, she helped her husband, who had multiple criminal cases against him, escape from jail.^[10] Her 21-year-old son was discovered dead in August 2018.^[11] Another son was beaten in 2019.^[12][13] Bharati is an animal lover, in 2023, she came into limelight after she took out funeral procession of her pet dog.^[14]

References

1. "Member profile - 60" (PDF) (in Hindi). Bihar Vidhan Sabha. (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2020.
2. "Bihar 2000". Election Commission of India. from the original on 15 May 2019.
3. Mishra, Dipak (9 February 2005). "Dons in doomsland make poll a boom-boom affair | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India. from the original on 27 April 2020.
4. "Bihar 2005". Election Commission of India. from the original on 15 May 2019.
5. "Fair sex gets unfair deal in Bihar polls | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 9 October 2010. from the original on 20 October 2010.
6. "Bihar 2010". Election Commission of India.
7. "Bihar 2015". Election Commission of India. from the original on 15 May 2019.
8. Singh, Santosh (19 January 2016). "JD(U) MLA's husband held, supporters free him from police station". The Indian Express. from the original on 14 September 2021.
9. "Bihar's biwi brigade". The Times of India. 6 October 2013. from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
10. "Accused escapes from police station in MLA wife's vehicle". The Times of India. 18 January 2016. from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
11. Deepika (3 August 2018). "Bihar: JDU MLA Bima Bharti's son found dead on railway track in Patna". One India. from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
12. "Bihar minister's son beaten up in Madhepura district". The Times of India. 3 November 2019. from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
13. "बिहार: भरी अदालत में लेसी सिंह के पति का मर्डर, कई बार बाल-बाल बचे अवधेश मंडल, खूनी अदावत से सियासी 'कुर्सी' तक". navbharat Times. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
14. "Beema Bharti took out funeral procession of her pet dog". News18. Retrieved 7 October 2023.