Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | ASP(KR) |
| President | Chandra Shekhar Aazad |
| Founder | Chandra Shekhar Aazad[1] |
| Founded | 15 March 2020[2] |
| Split from | Bahujan Samaj Party |
| Headquarters | 3/22-c-136, c block Gokulpur New Delhi, 110094 |
| Student wing | Bhim Army Student Federation of India
Yuva Morcha = ASP Youth Ving Mahila Morcha = ASP Women Ving |
| Youth wing | Bhim Army |
| Ideology | Socialism (Indian)
Ambedkarism Secularism |
| Political position | leftwing |
| Colours | Blue |
| ECI Status | Registered Unrecognised party |
| Alliance | RLP (2023) |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 1 / 543
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 0 / 245
|
| Seats in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | 0 / 403
|
| Seats in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council | 0 / 100
|
| Website | |
| aazadsamajpartyk | |
Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) (translation: Free Society Party; abbr. ASP) is an Indian registered unrecognised political party in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was founded by Chandra Shekhar Azad.[3][4]
History[edit]
Precursor[edit]
The Azad Samaj Party's origins lie in the Bhim Army founded by Chandra Shekhar Aazad in 2015 to protect constitutional rights and oppose caste oppression.[5][6] The group formed after reports of discrimination and caste-based violence faced by Dalit students at AHP Inter-college in Uttar Pradesh, and the Bhim Army then helped protect the Dalit students.[7][6]
Azad gained attention after publicly posting a sign which read "The Great Chamar of Dhadkauli Welcome You."[5][6] Upper-caste Rajputs were upset with the Dalit celebration of identity and objected to the erection of the board.[8] But, the Bhim Army intervened and ensure that the Thakurs did not unleash any violence.[8] In another incident, the Rajputs prevented a Dalit groom from riding a horse to his wedding.[8] Yet again, the Bhim Army intervened and escorted the groom.[8]
The Bhim Army attained national prominence after clashes in Uttar Pradesh.[9] In June 2017, the group's leader Chandrashekhar, a lawyer, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force.[10] Chandrashekhar was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in November 2017, but the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath continued to detain him under the National Security Act until it dropped the NSA order in September 2018 and acquitted Chandrashekhar from jail.[11] Chandrashekhar describes himself as a representative of Bahujan identity and a follower of Kanshi Ram.
The group protests against discrimination and caste violence against Dalit by members of the upper Thakurs caste in violent clashes in 2017 in Saharanpur. Bhim Army rally in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi in 2017 was attended by a large crowd,[12] estimated to be 10,000 by Delhi Police.
In August 2019, the Bhim Army took part in nationwide Dalit protests against the demolition of Shri Guru Ravidas Gurughar, a temple dedicated to Sant Ravidas in Tughlaqabad, Delhi, on the orders of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), following lengthy litigation between the DDA and Guru Ravidas Jainti Samaroh Samiti.[13] Dozens of people, including Chandrashekhar and Vinay Ratan, were arrested by police, prompting the Bhim Army to demand their release.[14]
In March 2020, Chandrashekhar announced that the Bhim Army would formally enter electoral politics. The group previously operated as a quasi-political force. Chandrashekhar stated that "We tried to join hands and work unitedly with the Bahujan Samaj Party but its leader was unwilling to do so." Chandrashekhar said the new political party would set up an office in Lucknow and work to counter the ruling BJP. Chandrashekhar has described the BJP as his chief political adversary, but has also competed with Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party.[15]
The Bhim Army opposes the BJP's Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) legislation[16] In January and February 2020, the Bhim Army engaged in the protests against the CAA and sought its repeal.[17][18] In February 2020, street clashes took place between pro-CAA BJP supporters and Bhim Army supporters in connection with the North East Delhi riots; both sides engaged in stone-pelting.[19]
Current political organisation[edit]
On 15 March 2020, Chandrashekhar officially announced his new political party named Azad Samaj Party. As many as 78 former leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Indian National Congress joined the newly launched party.[20] Chandra Shekhar Aazad officially announced the formation of his new political party, named Azad Samaj Party, on 15 March 2020. A total of 98 former leaders from the Samajwadi Party, Bhartiya Janta Party, Indian National Congress, and Rashtriya Lok Dal joined the newly launched party.[21]
On 27 October, the Azad Samaj Party formed an alliance with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party for the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections.[22]
The party's leader Chandershekar Azad is the party's first Member of Parliament and is elected from nagina lok sabha constituency.
General election results[edit]
| Year | Legislature | Party leader | Seats contested | Seats won | Change in seats | Total votes | % of votes on contested seats |
Vote swing | Outcome | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18th Lok Sabha | Chandrashekhar Azad | 2 | 1 / 543 Blue
|
 1
|
593,857 | 29.58% | New | Opposition | [23] |
See also[edit]
- List of political parties in India
- List of Indian National Congress breakaway parties
- Samajwadi Party
References[edit]
- ^ "Azad Samaj Party in UP". www.indiatoday.in. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "आजाद समाज पार्टी (कांशीराम) के तीसरे स्थापना दिवस पर "सीरी फोर्ट स्टेडियम" नई दिल्ली में प्रथम राष्ट्रीय अधिवेशन आयोजित किया जा रहा है". aazadsamajpartyk.org. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar launches party". bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Bhim Army President announces new political party 'Azad Samaj Party'". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ a b Rashid, Omar (10 June 2017). "The lowdown on the Bhim Army". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Daniyal, Shoaib. "Ambedkarite 2.0: Saharanpur's Bhim Army signals the rise of a new, aggressive Dalit politics". Scroll.in. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Quint, The. "Ambedkar's Army". TheQuint. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Daniyal, Shoaib. "Ambedkarite 2.0: Saharanpur's Bhim Army signals the rise of a new, aggressive Dalit politics". Scroll.in. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "After UP, Bhim Army set to rock Maharashtra". DNA India. 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Bhim army chief arrested: Family threatens govt, Congress calls him 'victim'". The Indian Express. 9 June 2017.
- ^ Omar Rashid, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad released from jail, says he will ensure BJP's rout in 2019, The Hindu (14 September 2018).
- ^ "The Curse of Caste?". We the People. NDTV. 28 May 2017.
- ^ Rawat, Mukesh (22 August 2019). "Explained: Why are Dalits agitated over demolition of Ravidas temple in Delhi". India Today. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ Bhim Army warns of movement if its top leaders are not freed, Indo-Asian News Service (25 August 2019).
- ^ archive, From our online (12 March 2020). "Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad to announce new party on BSP founder Kanshi Ram's anniversary". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Sent To Jail For 14 Days Over Citizenship Protests". NDTV.com. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad vows to fight until CAA is repealed, Deccan Herald (2 February 2020).
- ^ Anti-CAA protests: Court asks police to verify if Bhim Army Chief has an office in Delhi, Press Trust of India (18 January 2020).
- ^ Neeraj Chauhan, Delhi riots: Face-off between Bhim Army, CAA backers a trigger, Hindustan Times (28 February 2020).
- ^ Bhim Army President announces new political party 'Azad Samaj Party', Zee News (15 March 2020).
- ^ "Bhim Army President announces new political party Azad Samaj Party". Zee News. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Nair, Sobhana K. (31 October 2023). "Rashtriya Loktantrik Party makes another bid to lose its 'marginal player' tag in Rajasthan politics". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Election Commission 2024.