Dr. J. Purnachandra Rao Calls for Bahujan Movement at Kanshi Ram Jayanti Celebrations in Tirupati
According to him, the real opposition in the state is the Bahujan community, which remains politically marginalized despite forming the majority of the population.
Tirupati: Retired DGP and National Coordinator of the All India Bahujan Samaj Party (AIBSP), Dr. J. Purnachandra Rao, called upon Bahujans across the country to organize and launch a strong movement under the slogan “How many we are, that much should be our share.”
He made these remarks while addressing the Manyashri Kanshi Ram Jayanti celebrations held on Sunday at Nandakam Function Hall, MR Palli Circle in Tirupati, where he attended as the chief guest.
Dr. Purnachandra Rao stated that Manyashri Kanshi Ram played a historic role in awakening political consciousness among Bahujans at a time when Indian politics was heavily influenced by caste-based dominance. He described Kanshi Ram as a visionary leader who inspired marginalized communities to aspire for political power and representation.
Highlighting Kanshi Ram’s legacy, he said that there has been no leader like Kanshi Ram in the political history of India. He praised him as a courageous leader who drew inspiration from great social reformers and thinkers such as Gautama Buddha, Jyotiba Phule, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, Narayana Guru, and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Dr. Purnachandra Rao described Kanshi Ram as a social engineer who successfully mobilized employees from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes (BC), and minority communities across the country. Through this mobilization, he led several movements against social evils such as untouchability, discrimination, and social injustice.
He further explained that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was a great social scientist who framed the Constitution of India, while Kanshi Ram translated Ambedkar’s ideas into practical political action by organizing Bahujans and building a political movement for their empowerment.
According to Dr. Purnachandra Rao, Kanshi Ram strongly challenged the dominance of upper-caste politics in the country and exposed the imbalance in political representation. He recalled Kanshi Ram’s famous slogan, “Votes are ours, but the seats are yours?”, which questioned how a small section of upper-caste leaders continued to control political power despite the majority of votes coming from Bahujan communities.
He also pointed out the persistence of caste-based inequalities in the country. As an example, he noted that no Dalit has become the Chief Justice of the High Court in Andhra Pradesh, while an individual from an upper-caste background from the same state has served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India.
Criticizing the current political system, Dr. Purnachandra Rao said that EWS reservations were implemented within just ten days without any caste census or committee discussions, as Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers quickly approved and enacted the law. However, when it comes to providing reservations for Backward Classes, authorities often insist on conducting caste census and forming committees. He described this as an example of an upper-caste political strategy and urged Bahujans to respond with greater awareness, unity, and political participation.
AIBSP Tirupati District Committee Announced
On the occasion, Dr. Purnachandra Rao also announced the formation of the AIBSP District Committee in Tirupati as part of the party’s expansion in the region.
Soma Shekharachari was appointed as the Tirupati District President of the All India Bahujan Samaj Party. Along with him, Rajarao, Saraswati Bhagya, and several others were appointed to various leadership positions within the party.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Purnachandra Rao urged Bahujans to draw inspiration from Kanshi Ram’s ideology and slogans and strengthen the movement for social justice and political representation.
He also remarked that in Andhra Pradesh, communities such as Kamma and Reddy, which together constitute about 8 percent of the population, have dominated political power for decades. He observed that these communities have alternated in ruling positions while rarely functioning as a true opposition.
According to him, the real opposition in the state is the Bahujan community, which remains politically marginalized despite forming the majority of the population.
The event witnessed the participation of a large number of Bahujan leaders, activists, and supporters, who gathered to pay tribute to Manyashri Kanshi Ram and reaffirm their commitment to the ideals of social justice and equality.
