Bahujan Samaj Party

Abbreviation

BSP

Founded

1984

Founder(s)

Kanshi Ram

Main base

Uttar Pradesh

Election symbol

Elephant

Status

National party (ECI)

Founded by Kanshi Ram on 14 April 1984 to represent Dalits and other marginalised communities. Under Mayawati it has formed governments in Uttar Pradesh.

Milestones

• 1984 Founded by Kanshi Ram
• 2007 Wins a majority in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly

Election record at a glance

• Contested 11 Lok Sabha general elections under this name, from 1980 to 2024.
• First won Lok Sabha seats in 1989 (3). Best result: 20 seats in 2009. Total seats won across all elections: 85.
• Highest vote share: 6.17% in 2009.
• In 2024 it contested 488 seats in 26 states/UTs and won 0, with 2.04% of all votes polled.
• In Tamil Nadu it has contested 7 Lok Sabha elections without winning a seat.