BSP founder Kanshi Ram's death anniversary to set mega Dalit event for Congress on Oct 9

The Congress party is set to launch ‘Dalit Gaurav Samvad’ across Uttar Pradesh on the death anniversary of Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram on Monday, October 9, with an aim to shift the focus on Dalit ideologue who founded the party in 1984 with the mission of mobilizing the Dalit community and addressing their challenges.

Ram had effectively organised the Dalit community in the early 1980s across various states, including Uttar Pradesh (UP), Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. It was to gain political power through utilising potent electoral alliances of the Dalit, OBC and the other backward classes. 

In the 1980s, the Dalits constituted the core vote for the Congress, but then came Ram with his ideology and launched the Bahujan Samaj, for the politics of self-respect and to uplift the backward communities. The Allahabad by-polls in 1988 established BSP's electoral presence, with the campaigns led by Ram focused on empowering the Dalits. Congress, through its ‘Dalit Gaurav Samvad,’ aims to regain the support of Dalits and most backward classes (MBCs) in Uttar Pradesh. 

Kanshi Ram: Paladin of Dalits

Kanshi Ram, born on March 15, 1934, in the Ropar district of Punjab, encountered caste-based discrimination from a young age. He immersed himself in the ideals of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, which served as a profound inspiration for his commitment to the betterment of marginalised communities.

After resigning from the Republican Party of India (RPI) due to its cooperation with the Indian National Congress, Ram launched the All India SC, ST, OBC and Minority Employees Association (BAMCEF) in 1971 to spread Ambedkar’s ideals among his community. 

He founded the Bahujan Samaj in 1984, to support the Dalits and other backward classes politically. The BSP played a critical role in the 1993 UP Assembly polls by forming an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. He broke the alliance with SP and formed the BSP government in 1995, when Mayawati became the chief minister of UP. 

Kanshi Ram with Mayawati in 2003 | Image: X

While the BSP formed the government four times- 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2007- in UP, the party had to contest other states with limited influence.