Chainsukh Bharti, the First BSP MLA, Reflects on How a Meeting with a Buddhist Monk Altered His Life

Jalaun- The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was established in 1984 by Manyawar Kashiram, but it took some time for the party to achieve success. The Vidhan Sabha Elections of 1989 were a crucial test for the BSP, which was still in its nascent stage. When the election results were announced, Chainsukh Bharti became the first MLA of the party, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of northern India. Although Chainsukh Bharti was one of the 13 MLAs who won on the BSP ticket at that time, he is considered the first BSP MLA as his result was declared first among them.

The Mooknayak spoke to Chainsukh Bharti at his residence in Jalaun in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

Chainsukh Bharti, born into a Dalit family in Jalaun, pursued his BSc at Bakewar Degree College in Etawah and started teaching at the Inter College. He also completed MA L.T while teaching. Speaking about his entry into politics, he shared that he faced significant challenges due to his caste background. When he used to say "Jai Bhim," people would wonder, given his English medium education and pant-shirt attire. Both backward and upper-caste individuals were jealous of him, leading him to join activism and politics.

Recalling his victory in 1989, Chainsukh Bharti mentioned that nobody expected the party to win. He was chosen as the candidate because he was a teacher at a government college and was willing to bear the expenses and potential losses. Fortunately, he won by a margin of 700 votes, and he expressed gratitude to everyone, including friends and adversaries.

Regarding his first meeting with Kanshiram in 1984, Chainsukh Bharti shared that it took place during Sriram Kushwaha's election campaign. They discussed politics and organization. During a public meeting at the Ram Leela ground, Chainsukh Bharti mentioned that he had been saying "Jai Bhim" since 1958. Kanshiram was pleased and remarked that the MLAs of their party knew about Dr. Ambedkar before him.

Bharti explained his early inclination towards Ambedkarism, noting that despite being a devout Hindu singing songs of Ram and Krishna, his life changed after coming into contact with a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka in 1958. This encounter introduced him to Buddhism and Dr. Ambedkar, and he became an ardent Ambedkarite, consistently raising the slogan of "Jai Bhim" since 1958.

As a government teacher, Chainsukh Bharti joined BAMCEF (The All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation) but expressed disappointment in the current state of the organization. He laments the shift from selfless service to a more materialistic outlook among BAMCEF members. Today, people join for personal recognition rather than serving society or realizing Baba Saheb's mission. Chainsukh Bharti, a staunch Buddhist at 84, highlights the contrast by noting that he has never consumed non-vegetarian food.

Bharti also expressed his concerns about the deterioration in politics and increasing corruption. He highlighted his commitment to ethical practices during his stint as the chairman of UPSESB, where he recruited 25,000 candidates without taking any bribes.

In discussing his role as the incharge CM during Mayawati's first term in 1995, Chainsukh claimed that she had handed over temporary charge to him when she went to Japan and Thailand for a week. He was also inducted as a cabinet minister in that short-lived government. Bharti was one of the MLAs allegedly captivated inside the state guest house in 1995 when Kanshiram withdrew support to the Mulayam Singh government. He vividly recalled the electricity connection being snapped during their meeting with Mayawati.

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