These days, a visible competition is unfolding among all political parties to commemorate BSP founder Kanshi Ram.
These days, a visible competition is unfolding among all political parties to commemorate BSP founder Kanshi Ram. This is not merely a gesture of symbolic respect; rather, it is driven by the underlying power of the Dalit vote bank. This is precisely why, alongside the BSP, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress are also actively involved in celebrating Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary, whereas the BJP appears relatively subdued in this regard.
**The SP’s Strategy**
BSP founder Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary falls on March 15. Ahead of this date, all major parties have already announced various commemorative programs. The BSP is organizing a public rally in Lucknow, while special events are also being held in other states. The Samajwadi Party has announced that it will celebrate Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary across all districts. The Congress, for its part, organized a birth anniversary ceremony and a ‘Dalit Dialogue’ session on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Rahul Gandhi—the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha—drew a lifelike sketch of Kanshi Ram using his pen and asserted that Kanshi Ram should be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. Rahul Gandhi further remarked that had Jawaharlal Nehru been alive, Kanshi Ram would have become a Chief Minister.
**Electoral Calculus and the Significance of the Dalit Vote**
According to analysts, the sudden surge of affection for Kanshi Ram among various parties is merely a component of their political strategy. In Uttar Pradesh, the Dalit population stands at approximately 21%, and 85 of the state’s Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (Dalits). Furthermore, even in the remaining constituencies, the Dalit vote bank possesses the potential to significantly influence electoral outcomes.
Ramakant Shukla
Courtesy: Hindi News