Congress tributes to Kanshi Ram signal outreach to Dalits amid BSP crisis

In a significant political move aimed at expanding the party's social base, senior Congress leaders on Saturday paid tribute to late Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary.

The homage, led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and party general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, comes at a time when the BSP is grappling with internal turmoil and a shrinking political footprint.

Posting on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi lauded Kanshi Ram’s contribution to social justice and Dalit empowerment, stating, “His struggle for the rights of Dalits, the deprived, and the exploited will continue to guide us at every step in this fight for social justice.”

Kharge, too, underscored Kanshi Ram’s role in mainstreaming the marginalised, saying, “He made a significant contribution in connecting Dalits, the deprived, and the Backward Classes with Indian politics. He has left an indelible mark as a pioneer of equality and social justice.”

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined in, describing Kanshi Ram as a “strong voice for the rights of Dalits, the deprived, the exploited, and Backward Classes.”

The Congress’ unprecedented public tribute to Kanshi Ram, as per political watchers, signals a calculated move to woo Dalit voters, a base that has traditionally been the stronghold of the BSP.

With the Mayawati-led party facing dwindling electoral fortunes and internal divisions, the Congress appears to be positioning itself as the primary advocate of social justice politics.

Notably, this comes just days after Rahul Gandhi revealed that he had invited BSP chief Mayawati to join the Opposition's INDIA bloc, but she declined.

The Congress' overtures to Kanshi Ram’s legacy, according to political analysts, suggest a bid to court disenchanted Dalit voters, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where the BSP's decline has created a vacuum.

Born on 15 March 1934 in Punjab’s Ropar district, Kanshi Ram emerged as a transformative leader for Dalits and other marginalised communities. His founding of the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) in 1971, the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS-4), and ultimately the BSP in 1984, reshaped the landscape of Indian politics.

Under his leadership, the BSP provided a powerful political voice to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and minorities. 

Eventually, Kanshi Ram passed the leadership of the BSP to Mayawati, who became Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister four times. However, with the BSP now struggling to retain its core voter base, the Congress' strategic invocation of Kanshi Ram’s legacy shows that the grand old party is readying to fill the vacuum in Dalit politics.

As the political battle lines are drawn for upcoming state elections in UP, the Congress tribute to Kanshi Ram is more than just a ceremonial gesture — it is a direct challenge to Mayawati’s claim over the Bahujan vote bank. Whether this move translates into electoral gains remains to be seen.