Bahujan Samaj Party

The BSP was formed in 1984 by Kanshi Ram who has remained party leader ever since. The party emerged from Kanshi Ram's earlier activity promoting the interests of Scheduled Caste government employees. Kanshi Ram was able to promote the organization in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Although the BSP is recognized by the Election Commission as a national party it effectively functions on certain North Indian states only. Its ideology is based on the argument that the majority are oppressed by the select upper class. It aims to change this using the government power. Mayawati and Kanshi Ram are the two key figures of the party.

The BSP first entered the election fray in 1984 but didn’t do well. It started to rise in the post alliances era. While in power in 1995, the BSP was clouded in several controversies.

It still has risen with it's limited following based on the cast credentials. Its single point program is the enlistment of dalits.