Kejriwal pays tribute to Kanshi Ram on death anniversary
Synopsis
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on October 9, 2026 paid tribute to BSP founder Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary, saluting his decades-long struggle for the rights of Dalits and marginalised communities and calling his legacy an eternal national inspiration.
Key Takeaways
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal paid homage to Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary, October 9, 2026 .
Kejriwal described Kanshi Ram's struggle for nation-building, rights of the deprived, social equality and justice as a lasting inspiration.
Kanshi Ram founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984 to give political voice to Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalised groups.
He passed away on October 9, 2006 , and his punyatithi is marked annually across Indian political parties.
His movement drew on the legacy of Dr.
Ambedkar and sought to convert social justice into electoral power.
On the death anniversary of Bahujan Nayak Manyavar Kanshi Ram, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal offered his deepest homage on Friday, October 9, 2026, calling the Dalit icon's lifelong struggle for the rights of the marginalised an enduring source of inspiration for the nation.
Posting on X, Kejriwal wrote: 'बहुजन नायक मान्यवर कांशीराम जी की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन।' — 'Heartfelt salutations to Bahujan Nayak Manyavar Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary.' He added that Kanshi Ram's fight for nation-building, the rights of the deprived, social equality and justice would forever remain a source of inspiration for the country.
Kanshi Ram, who passed away on October 9, 2006, founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984, channelling the political aspirations of Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalised communities into an organised electoral force. His movement built on the intellectual legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and sought to translate social justice into concrete political power — a vision he captured in the slogan 'Jiski jitni sankhya bhaari, uski utni hissedari' (representation proportional to population).
Kejriwal's tribute arrives as Indian political parties across the spectrum mark Kanshi Ram's punyatithi, reflecting the enduring resonance of his Bahujan politics two decades after his passing.
Point of View
Kejriwal aligns AAP's welfare-centric narrative with a constitutionally grounded rights discourse, broadening its ideological appeal. The tribute also signals that two decades after Kanshi Ram's death, his political philosophy remains a live, contested resource — not a settled monument — in India's democratic competition.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kanshi Ram pass away?
Kanshi Ram passed away on October 9, 2006 , and his death anniversary — known as punyatithi — is observed every year on that date.
Who was Kanshi Ram and what did he do?
Kanshi Ram was the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) , established in 1984 . He dedicated his life to securing political representation and rights for Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalised communities in India.
Why did Kejriwal pay tribute to Kanshi Ram?
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal posted a tribute on October 9, 2026 — Kanshi Ram's death anniversary — honouring his fight for social equality, justice, and the rights of the deprived.
What is the Bahujan Samaj Party?
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a national political party founded by Kanshi Ram in 1984 to represent Dalits, OBCs, minorities, and other marginalised groups, drawing ideological inspiration from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar .
What did Kanshi Ram mean by Bahujan politics?
Kanshi Ram's Bahujan politics aimed to unite all marginalised communities — Dalits, OBCs, tribals, and minorities — into a majority political force, encapsulated in his slogan demanding representation proportional to population.
