Calling themselves Bahujan Azad Party, the IITians are planning to contest their first elections in Bihar in 2020. Analysts and activists welcome the move.
New Delhi: Move aside Arvind Kejriwal and AAP, a fresh group of IITians is preparing to launch itself into national politics.
A group of 50 alumni from the Delhi and Kharagpur IITs are set to launch a party to do what they say the Congress, the BJP and everyone else didn’t – “uplift the marginalised”.
They plan to call it the Bahujan Azad Party (BAP), and say it will be dedicated to fighting for the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and women, who haven’t received their due in terms of education or employment.
Who’s leading them?
Naveen Kumar, the president-in-waiting of the party, graduated from IIT Delhi in 2015 in textile technology. Most of the members, he says, come from the SC, ST and OBC communities.
“A number of us IITians are working actively for the formation of this party. We have applied to get it registered with the Election Commission, and we are expecting a response in the next 15 days. There are some 50 people who have left their jobs, and are working full time for the party. There are some others with us, some civil service officers supporting us from the outside, working like a think tank for us,” Kumar said.
“Since most of us come from SC, ST or OBC sections of society, we have an idea about the kind of situations these people have to face in various sectors, including jobs and education. The representation of OBCs is very bad in academia and the judiciary. We want to work towards bringing them at par with the general category.”
The plan ahead
Venturing into mainstream politics, BAP plans to start its electoral journey with the assembly elections in Bihar in 2020, and then aim for the next general elections.
Kumar said they will not pit themselves as a particular party’s ‘rival’, as they only want to work for the upliftment of the marginalised, making education their main focus.
At present, Kumar said, they do not have any political backing, but some prominent community groups are supporting them.
“We have backing from some groups that work for the backward castes, but we cannot reveal their names yet, it’s too early for that,” he said.
‘A welcome step’
Political analysts and Dalit rights activists welcomed the initiative, but also cautioned these young leaders to remember that their main objective is not to face giants like theCongress and the BJP, but to build confidence in their own bahujan samaj.
Analyst-activist-politician Yogendra Yadav said: “It is a highly appreciable step if a group of IITians want to join the mainstream politics and fight for the rights of Dalits. But they should remember why they are getting into politics – to fight for their own bahujan samaj and not with giants like the BJP and the Congress. If they are able to develop a relationship with their own community, it’s a great step.
“The fight always begins from the top. Kanshi Ram was also able to fight for the bahujan samaj because he was empowered. Empowerment is what the Dalit community needs right now.”
N. Paul Divakar, president of the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, also welcomed the IITians’ initiative.
“People are not ready to discuss basic human rights in this country without getting irrationally political. If this group of IITians have the capacity to do that, it is fantastic,” Divakar said.
“However, we should not fall flat for them just because they are IITians. If they are able to work hand-in-hand with human rights groups, it is the best kind of effort, and like a breath of fresh air that Indian politics needs. I will do all I can to support them.”
Waman Meshram destroyed BAMCEF completely… He is distracting the dalits youth by giving fake facts of history.Dalits should boycott this Meshram.
Jai Hind.
Hello Team, the print.
Great information, I appreciate the writing style of Kritika Sharma.I am reading every new post of “THE PRINT” past 6 months. which information you collect over here is to be very useful to me in many ways. I am a political science student. I wish you to keep doing the good work.
Thanks for sharing such a knowledgeful post.
These people are not real. They may be sleeper cell of RSS. If they are really think about bahujan, why they are not with BSP and BAMCEF. Because they are fake.
A good initiative because a young group of educated youth are taking the plunge.
Why you are working for SC,ST & OBC if you are a highly educated person and different to other politicians working for all poor and weaker sections of the Society I think you mean minded 50 IITans , please thinking about betterment of all poor and weaker sections of the Society without bahujan or sowarn. Thanks, Ashok Giri, Innovative Handicrafts Artist, Selected for “President Award” and Recommended for Jharkhand State Award also. Secretary, “Progressive Development Society” A Nation wide Renowned NGO.Ex.Head Handicrafts, XLRI Jamshedpur Jharkhand. Ex. Vice president, Ranchi, Nagar, District Congress (I) LS, Ex. Sr. General Secretary Jamshedpur Nagar District NSUI.
Good every one from our community must support our team
Wright tram in long parti on SC at obc will spoded in 2019
Now we can think of good days ahead. I am ready to leave my job and want join this movement.
Kese judu
Main bhi judna Chahta hoon I supported BAP???
Congrats Team , Lets bring equality to all section of people in India, Being deprived for many years wish this party brings changes in the Society .
A good initiative because a young group of educated youth are taking the plunge. However ‘IIT’ tag may not be of much use: they are not for another job interview and we have many examples of IITans in politics not particularly inspiring confidence. Since they are focused on Dalits and OBCs etc, there is every danger of degenaring into lobbying group rather than a political party. Should guard against interested NGOs. Good luck.
1. I am an Engineer and Advocate too. I have been working on the idea of empowerment of OBCs for a few decades [with two publications to my account], since I am convinced through investigative research, that this social category, even post Independence, had been deliberately kept starving for adequate Empowerment. This issue was not properly assessed and its solution was not given desired attention while structuring the Constitution itself.
2. We are responding on a political report by a Journalist Sri. Kartika Sharma, “The Print”, about BAP, a thought in the offing without directly listening to the young group of 50 IITians promoting the thought in any other form. So, full scale response is difficult at this stage. Notwithstanding this limitation it is imperative to welcome the very idea, but I wish to caution that a fairly accurate quantitative assessment of the issues proposed to be addressed is essential for evolving a meaningful policy frame for the contemplated political move.
3. At this stage, I venture to suggest the Young IITian group, a careful perusal of a small book titled “OBC and State Policy” published in 2015 by a Delhi based publisher, “Critical Quest” with contact number, 99100 36543 , that may add to the preliminary basis for the contemplated political platform. I desire to get associated with this BAP effort whose essential objective shall be taken to EQUALISE the differentially stratified Indian Society, which is also in essence one of the declared prime goals of the Indian Constitution.
Right initiation at right time by right peoples. Since most of the members of BAP come from SC, ST, and OBC category 85 percent peoples of this country are with you. Go ahead. Success is must .
Very good keep it up
This is what, I was thinking from so many year’s, if the low qualified people are taking the initiative to do something for their country then why educated people don’t think so.But,there is big reason everyone knows I don’t want to explain. This is the first step toward the revolution but I am not happy with agenda that you are saying to uplift SC, ST,OBC and women.I am belongs to SC category but still this my strong opinion with the help of some communities you can not lead in this country. Instead of saying to uplift SCs, STs, OBCs and women you could say “For the revolution in country ” you are entering in this area it could be 100 times better way to introduce yourself in the country and with this thought you could become first educated party in the history of India. I am so happy with this decision but still you people have time to think about this. I expect you will understand my thought whatever I want to convey from above lines. I am M. Tech. student from IITM.
this people should also contact iit madras students , there are few like minded groups
Good going. Keep it up. Best luck.
एक अच्छा प्रयास है, लेकिन जातिगत भेदभाव समाप्ति के लिए जातियों को पारस्परिक विलीनीकरण एवं एकीकरण आवश्यक है। इसके अतिरिक्त” एक परिवार को एक बार आरक्षण” तथा क्रीमी लेयर का सख्ती से पालन भी कराये जाने की आवश्यकता है। रूरल एरिया में गुणवत्ता पूर्ण शिक्षा के वातावरण की भी जरूरत है।सामान्य वर्ग की चिंताओं को भी समझने की आवश्यकता है।सामाजिक सद्भाव सहित राष्ट्रीय विकास मुख्य उद्देश्य होना चाहिए।
if Any party wants to to good for the country.they should give preference to merit rather than category.
A very good step for betterment and upliftment of these SC,ST,OBC & Women. Congratulations. Best wishes.
Good to hear that..we appreciate your efforts to fight for the rights of Dalit community.i am an IT proffessional wants to join and work for the upliftment of our community.
All the very best my dear friends keep it up. My supports is there for the party.
Be careful,it is Indian politics, very good steps ,but think more and more I know manyawar kanshiram ji steps first of all he arrange symposium regarding movement is review and serview, launch non political organization,non religious issue, only and only social issue, grievance,contact maximum social workers,launch publication, weekly,daily , magazine,. And For economic development launch non agitational employees organization, non agitational social group, pls take some fully matured steps for social transformation and economic emancipation.wish you all the best for secess
Though the objective is laudable , it will not be a successful venture. My dear friends it is simple arithmetics; once you say you are face of scams,st and obviously ,you are alienating others from your fold and you can not expect 100 percent of these votes.Indian elections are money loading exercise and you can not stand.once you come on to electoral forum ,the inner and unknown factors will be at play and lot of damage may cause to some players and unwittingly you may help those against whom you have been fighting for centuries. Think before you start. Strategic alliance may be good. But ideologically driven methodology need to be adopted. Clear vision is needed.
It’s a good move but none of the parties succeeded on national level on the base of backing from any particular religion, caste or faith basis.
If these IITians really want to do something good for the upliftment of SC, ST or OBC they should have gone for educating them so that they themselves become capable to do something at par with others. Bahujan samaj party is a failure and there are many other examples. These people are being cheated by reservation on the basis of qualifying criteria. If govt is interested to provide reservation, then the govt should have given reservation on seats without any exemption in qualification. The day you limit you potential to a particular level, then you can never go beyond that. So unfold your potential and set the target as a rifle shooter who target 100percent. If the shooter limits himself to 50 percent he can never win the game.
Good… Country is in need of such people… We don’t have any options for 2019 fed up of all parties… Try it for 2019 LS election
A party based on caste is doomed to fail. They will rake all rehtorics so-called welwishers of sc/st/obc are already making. Better enlighten to be hard working and get the position in society on merit rather taking help of reservation.
Do u think bjp is not castist. All bjp leaders are upper caste
Sir, can you convey your party address to my e-mail as I appreciate the initiation for bringing the community to the forefront of social life.
why we are still supporting IITians who wants to divide nation based on SC/ST/OBC
Wish you all the best do good.for as well as for every citizen.my support is there for the party
I Dr R N Dahiya welcome the wonderful initiation by the cream of the society for the betterment of the SC,ST and OBC The real BAHUJANS
All the very best my dear friends
Keep it up
I welcome this brilliant initiative by a group of IITians for the betterment/welfare of sc/st.
Really I appreciate this, It will very good to see the party of technocrats and being directly active in politics.
I would like to congratulate the pioneers of this group. I feel if some educated farmers set up a similar organisation for farmers who are also an under privileged and exploited group, together they can set India free from the present day politicians who are mostly corrupt and bigoted.
Please mention …About the authenticity of this article..looking forward to this Young party