Bai Jinian

Bai Jinian (; February 19, 1926 – January 15, 2015) was a Chinese politician. He was best known as the first provincial party chief in China elected by an internal democratic process, when he became Party Secretary of Shaanxi in 1984. Considered an associate of Hu Yaobang, Bai fell out of favour in 1987 and was removed from his position.

Early life Bai was born in Suide County, Shaanxi Province on February 19, 1926, the second son of schoolteacher and small businessman Bai Xingping . In 1939, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, he joined Communist fighters in Yan'an, beginning his career as a revolutionary. He taught elementary school in rural Shaanxi and worked as a secretary to local party leaders. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in April 1942.

Early People's Republic and Cultural Revolution After the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Bai began a career as a functionary in the Communist Youth League of China (CYL), working under the provincial CYL leader at the time, Hu Yaobang. Thereafter he led rural work in a provincial commission, and was also named deputy party chief of Hanzhong prefecture.

During the Cultural Revolution, Bai was purged for his association with Hu Yaobang and was also labelled an associate of purged party veterans Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun. Bai was placed in solitary confinement, and spent time working as a janitor. He also developed colon cancer. He resumed normal work in 1972, continuing to lead work in rural affairs.