Bahujan Samaj Party
Also called: BSP · Topic: Recent Developments in Indian Politics: Coalitions, Mandal and a New Consensus · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 4 "Political Parties"; Class 12, Ch 8 "Recent Developments in Indian Politics"
Meaning
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was founded by Kanshi Ram in 1984. "Bahujan" means "the many": SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities, who together form a majority of the population. Kanshi Ram called political power the "master key" to social equality. The BSP is mainly supported by Dalits. It grew out of BAMCEF and DS-4.
Example
The BSP broke through in Uttar Pradesh in 1989 and 1991. It was the first such success for a mainly Dalit-supported party. Mayawati became Chief Minister of UP, first in 1995, and the party won a full majority there in 2007. In 2024 it won no Lok Sabha seat.
Don't confuse with
- BAMCEF (1978): also founded by Kanshi Ram, but it was an organisation of employees, not a party that fought elections.