Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President Mayawati on 9 October 2026 renewed her demand for the Bharat Ratna for party founder Kanshi Ram, speaking at a memorial event on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas (death anniversary) at the BSP's central camp office at 9 Mall Avenue, Lucknow. Describing the Bahujan Samaj as her 'true family,' she reaffirmed her resolve to steer the party away from dynastic politics and toward what she called the 'master key' to political power.

Tributes and Pledges in Lucknow

Mayawati paid floral tributes to Kanshi Ram's statue at the event, which was attended by several senior party office-bearers, including BSP National Coordinator Akash Anand. She pledged to carry forward Kanshi Ram's ideas and mission, saying his life's work was dedicated to advancing the legacy of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar — specifically the caravan of self-respect and dignity.

She stated that Kanshi Ram had struggled throughout his life to transform the Bahujan Samaj 'from an exploited class into a ruling class' and to realise what she described as the constitutional 'Bahujan Era' on the ground. She added that she would never allow the trust he placed in her — by declaring her his successor — to be compromised.

The Bharat Ratna Demand

Mayawati reiterated that the Central government should confer the country's highest civilian honour upon Kanshi Ram in recognition of his 'historic contribution to the movement for social change' and out of respect for the sentiments of the Bahujan Samaj. Drawing a parallel, she cited the conferment of the Bharat Ratna upon Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, arguing that Kanshi Ram's contributions to the same movement deserved equivalent national recognition.

Notably, this demand has been a recurring feature of BSP platforms, reflecting the party's broader effort to secure mainstream institutional acknowledgement for its foundational figures.

Poll Mobilisation Call Ahead of Assembly Elections

With Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab on the horizon, Mayawati urged party office-bearers and workers to dedicate themselves 'fully, in body, mind, and resources' to the electoral cause. She said taking Kanshi Ram's mission to its 'ultimate goal' would be the truest tribute to him.

She also emphasised that the Bahujan Samaj would attain power not through anyone's 'mercy or benevolence' but through the strength of voting rights guaranteed by the Constitution, making the safeguarding of those rights paramount.

Governance Critique and Public Welfare Agenda

Mayawati trained her sights on the ruling establishment, arguing that a 'feel-good' atmosphere created for a 'handful of people' cannot make the entire nation prosperous while poverty, inflation, unemployment, illiteracy, and backwardness persist. She called on governments to take 'concrete and sustainable measures' to provide employment and empower citizens.

She identified education, healthcare, roads, and employment as fundamental areas of public welfare, asserting that governments should act on their own responsibilities rather than deferring to the private sector in these domains. She also flagged the growing assertiveness of Gen Z and Gen Alpha on issues of education and employment, urging governments to respond with action rather than claims.

With elections approaching and the BSP seeking to reclaim lost ground, Mayawati's address signals a sharpened dual focus: institutional recognition for the party's ideological pillars and aggressive grassroots mobilisation.