BSP founder leader Kanshiram passes away

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Dalit leader Mr Kashiram, founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which became a political force in North India within 10 years of inception in 1984, passed away at his Humayun road residence here early today, after his prolonged illness.

He was 74. Mr Kashiram is survived by his two brothers and two sisters.

Mr Kanshiram breath his last at his 11, Humayun Road residence at around 0100 hrs where he was living after a long hospitalisation.

BSP Chief Ms Mayawati was around when the end came, party sources said.

Mr Kanshiram was born in village Khawaspur of Ropar district in the year 1934. In an attempt to promote the interests of government employees belonging to weaker sections Mr Kanshiram formed a organistaion of government employees ''The Backward and Minorities Employees Federation (BAMCEF)'' in 1973.

He transformed it into a political outfit in December 1982 when he formed the ''Dalit Soshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS4)''.

It was finally transformed into the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984 with the aim of organsiing Dalit classes into a political force.

The party first established as a political force in the state of Uttar Pradesh in 1993 when it formed a coalition government with Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. The BSP first entered the election fray in 1984 but fared badly, losing 207 seats.

The party first came into limelight when Kanshiram fought the Allahabad Lok Sabha bypoll in 1987. He stood against V P Singh, who eventually won the election.

The party came to power on its own in 1995 with Ms Mayawati forming government with the support of BJP. The party later went out of power in the state. It continued to be a major political force and is now a strong contender for power in the coming assembly elections next year in the state.

The party send 19 MPS to the Lok Sabha is the last elections.

Mr Kanhsiram was elected twice to the Lok Sabha and remanied a member of Rajya Sabha too.

Mr Kanshiram remained out of active politics for quite some time due to his illness and during this period, he lived at Mayawati's residence.

Members of his family had also alleged that Mayawati has been essentially holding him captive in order to control the BSP.

Finally, the Supreme Court in its decision of April 8, 2005 ordered a team of doctors to examine his physical and mental condition.

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