Bahujan Samaj Party

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was founded by Shri. Kanshi Ram in 1984. BSP claims to be a centrist national party with socialist leanings. Initially, it was formed to represent the political interests of Bahujans, literally meaning "People in majority", referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes (OBC) who constitute more than 75% of India’s population. The party is inspired by the political philosophy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. The party has its main base in the state of Uttar Pradesh where it has formed the government several times. In 2009 elections Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) did not release any manifesto. The president of the party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati Friday said that she did not believe in releasing a manifesto. Rather she appealed to voters highlighting the achievements of her government and the “false promises” of other parties. In a 32 page appeal she said: “The Bahujan Samaj Party is the only party in the country which believes in doing and not just in making promises, which is why our party does not issue election manifestos. (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/bsp-does-not-issue-manifesto-but-32-page-appeal-to-voters_100169183.html) However, at this time, Ms. Mayawati appealed in the name of Sarvajan (all) and not in the name of Bahujan alone. This change from Bahujan to Sarvajan was more of the result of “social engineering” than of dilution of its earlier philosophy.