Explained: What Is Bharatiya Kisan Union And Why It's Not Aligned To Any Political Party

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president, Naresh Tikait, declared on January 16 that BKU would back the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal candidates in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

However, the next day he reversed his position and stated that the BKU will not support any political party. Naresh's younger brother Rakesh Tikait and BKU spokesperson denied Naresh's earlier claims. Rakesh emphasised the farmers' union's apolitical orientation.

Naresh Tikait | PTI

Despite whatever the BKU¡¯s approach will be, one cannot ignore the influence they wield especially in western regions of Uttar Pradesh which shall go to the polls next month.

Roots of Bhartiya Kisan Union

The Bharatiya Kisan Union traces its roots back to the Punjab Khetibari Union, which was founded in Chandigarh in May 1972 after the amalgamation of 11 peasant groups. Former Indian Prime Minister and famous farmers leader Rajiv Gandhi renamed the PKU the Bhartiya Kisan Organization in 1978 as a farmers union of the Bharatiya Lok Dal of the Janata Party (Secular).

In 1980, a "All-India Kisan Sammelan" was held, bringing together a number of regional farmers' unions under the umbrella of the BKU. In 1982, the union was split into two groups: BKU (N), led by Narayanasamy Naidu, and BKU (M), led by Bhupendra Singh Mann. Sharad Anantrao Joshi's intervention, however, brought the organisation back together under a federal framework with independent state divisions.

It was reorganised in late 1980s by Mahendra Singh Tikait as a non-partisan organisation with headquarters in Sisauli, western Uttar Pradesh, in contrast to earlier times. This remained one of the influential farmers unions in India being part of numerous farmers agitation including the recent farmers protest against the 2019 farm laws.

Since then the group has undergone many splits and many split groups of the organisation exist today. However, one led by Tikait is considered influential, especially in the western UP.

In 1987 Mahendra Singh Tikait organised a campaign in Shamli, Muzaffar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, demanding that farmers' power costs be waived, and he rose to prominence. He reorganised the Bhartiya Kisan Union in this city.

In 1988, Mahendra Singh Tikait organised the Bhartiya Kisan Union Rally, which drew nearly five lakh farmers from western Uttar Pradesh to Delhi's Boat Club lawns for over a week, forcing the Rajiv Gandhi government to accept his 35-point charter of demands, which included raising sugarcane prices and waiving electricity bills for farmers.

Tikait successfully organised the Bhartiya Kisan Union Rally in Lucknow in July 1990 with over two lakh farmers, demanding higher sugarcane prices and large rebates in electricity dues from the Janata Dal Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Naresh Tikait | ANI

Mahendra Tikait staged a dharna in Lucknow in 1992, demanding that farmers' loans of up to Rs 10,000 be written off, and he also staged a dharna in Ghaziabad, demanding more compensation for land taken from farmers.

His influence can be understood from a 2008 incident, when a contingent of 6,000 armed officers laid siege to his village in order to apprehend him after he used abusive words against then-CM Mayawati. He was only allowed to go after apologising to the CM.

Following Tikait's death, his elder son Naresh Tikait became BKU chief while his younger son Rakesh Tikait is the BKU spokesperson and was one of the leaders of recent farmers' protest. BKU in particular organised many mahapanchayats across the region while continually staying in protest at the Delhi border.

BKU holds significant influence over farmers especially in the western Uttar Pradesh. This was seen during farmers' protest when Tikait made sure to make his influence evident through mahapanchayats.

However, following Mahendra Tikait¡¯s direction, BKU has managed to remain apolitical. However all eyes are now towards them, whether they will support any political party in upcoming elections or field their candidates.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.