The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a political party in India, founded by Kanshi Ram in 1984. The party primarily represents the Bahujan community, which includes the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, and religious minorities. The BSP's ideology is centered around social transformation and economic emancipation of these marginalized groups.
Key features of the BSP:
1. **Founder**: Kanshi Ram, who established the party to fight for the rights of the oppressed and marginalized communities in India.
2. **Leadership**: After Kanshi Ram, Mayawati became the prominent leader and has served multiple terms as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, one of India's most populous states.
3. **Ideology**: The BSP promotes the interests of the Bahujan community and aims to uplift these groups through social justice, equality, and economic empowerment.
4. **Electoral Success**: The BSP has had significant electoral success, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where it has formed the state government several times.
5. **Symbol**: The party's symbol is an elephant, which is intended to represent strength and dignity.
The BSP has played a crucial role in Indian politics by bringing issues of caste-based discrimination and social justice to the forefront.