BJP & BSP Similarly Authoritarian

Both BJP & BSP are similarly authoritarian least democratic parties though former has little more detailed constitution and there are power centers at different levels and BSP is bluntly single person controlled party. Like SAD, BJP & BSP also have nominations for most positions by President of their party.

BJP continues to have opposition mindset in "Mahila, Youth, Kisan, Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Morchas will be constituted at all levels, and Cells formed at the National, State and District level for other fields"

BSP has only one word Democracy in its constitution that too in the last line. What is unique about BSP constitution is that it aspires to compete with DLF, Unitech & Raheja Builders.

Ravinder Singh

January25, 2009

ArticleXIV: MANDAL COMMITTEE

(a) A Mandal Committee of Category 1 State shall consist of a President and not more than 20 members, at least 3 of whom shall be women and 2 belonging to

S.C./S.T. The President of the Mandal shall nominate from amongst the members of the Committee, not more than two Vice-Presidents, one

General Secretary, one Treasurer and not more than two Secretaries.

(b) AMandalCommitteeofCategory2Stateshallconsist of a President and not more than 30 members, at least 4 of whom shall be women and 2 belonging to S.C./S.T. The President of the Mandal shall nominate from amongst the members of the Committee not more than three Vice-Presidents, one General Secretary, one Treasurer and not more than three Secretaries.

(c) A Mandal Committee of Category 3 State shall consist of a President and not more than 40 members, at least 5 of whom shall be women and 3 belonging to

S.C/S.T. The President of the Mandal shall nominate from amongst the members of the Committee not more than four Vice-Presidents, one General Secretary, one Treasurer and not more than four Secretaries,

ArticleXV: DISTRICT COMMITTEE

(c) District Committee of Category 3 State shall consist of a President and not more than 60 members, at least 7 of whom shall be women and 4 belonging to S.C/ S.T. The President of the District Committee shall nominate from amongst the elected members of his Committee not more than five Vice-Presidents, three

General Secretaries (one of whom will be Organising Secretary), one Treasurer and not more than five Secretaries. Among office bearers one will be a woman

and one SC/ST

ArticleXVII: STATE EXECUTIVE

3. The President would nominate from among the members of the Executive of Category 1 State not more than four Vice-Presidents, two General Secretaries (one of them to be General Secretary-Organization), four Secretaries and

one Treasurer. Among office bearers one will be woman and 2 SC/ST.

(3) The President would nominate from among the members of the Executive of Category 3 State not more than six Vice-Presidents, four General Secretaries, (one of them to be General Secretary-Organization,) six Secretaries and one Treasurer. Among office bearers one will be woman and two SC/ST.

4. Any ten members of state electoral college should jointly propose any person who has been an active member for three terms and a primary member for 10 years, for the post of President. Such joint proposal should come from at least 1/3 of the elected district. The consent of the candidate is necessary.

ArHcleXJX: ELECTION OFTHENATIONAL PRESIDENT

3. Any twenty members of the electoral college of a state can jointly propose any person who has been an active member for four terms and has fifteen years of membership, for the post of National President. But such joint proposal should come from not less then five states where elections have been completed for the National council. The consent of the candidate is necessary.

Article XX: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

1. The National Executive shall consist of President and not more than 80 members, of whom at least 12 shall be women and 8 belonging to SC/ST, to be nominated by the President.

2. The President shall nominate from amongst the members of the National Executive not more than seven Vice- Presidents, not more than five General Secretaries (one of these to be General Secretary-Organization), one Treasurer

and not more than seven Secretaries. Out of the office bearers there will be at least 6 W/SC/ST giving representation to at least one from each category.

Article XXI: TERM OF THE PRESIDENT

No member will hold the post of a President for more than one term of three years.

The State and the National President will have at least 25% new members in his Committee.

The number of Special invitees in a National Committee shall not exceed 30% in state executive 25% in District Committee 20% of its total strength besides ex-officio permanent invitees.

At the National, State and District levels only a whole time worker shall be appointed as General Secretary (Organization). He will be eligible to contest any election only two years after his relinquishing office.

Article XXV: PARLIAMENTARY BOARD

The National Executive shall set up a Parliamentary Board consisting of the Party President and 8 other members one of whom will be the Leader of the Party in Parliament, with the Party President as Chairman. One of the General Secetaries shall be nominated as Secretary of the Parliamentary Board by the President.

The parliamentary Board has power to supervise and regulate the activities of the legislative and parliamentary parties of the party, to guide in the formation of ministry and also has the authority to take note of any breach of discipline by members of the legislative and parliamentary parties and also by office-bearers of state-units and take such actions that are necessary. The Board will discuss

and decide any policy pursuit or policy change which has not till then been adopted by the party. The Board shall have power and authority to guide and regulate all the organisational units below the National Executive. This decisions shall be ratified at a special meeting of the national executive within twenty one days of the said decision.

Article XXVI: CENTRAL ELECTION COMMITTEE

1. The National Executive shall set up a Central Election Committee consisting of the Parliamentary Board and 8 other members elected by the National Executive as per rules for the purpose of:

(a) Making final selection of candidates for the State Legislatures and Parliament; and

(b) Conducting election campaigns.

Article XXXI: MORCHAS AND CELLS

1. Mahila, Youth, Kisan, Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Morchas will be constituted at all levels, and Cells formed at the National, State and District level for other fields, according to the rules framed by the National Executive.

PLEDGE

I believe in Integral Humanism which is the basic philosophy of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

I am committed to Nationalism and National Integration, Democracy, Gandhian Socialism, Positive Secularism, (Sarva Dharma Santa Bhava) and Value-based politics.

I subscribe to the concept of a Secular State and Nation not based on religion.

I firmly believe that this task can be achieved by peaceful means alone.

I do not observe or recognize untouchability in any shape or form.

I am not a member of any other political Party.

I undertake to abide by the Constitution, Rules and Discipline of the Party.

BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY

Article II. - Aims and Objectives.

1. The chief aim and objective of the party shall be to work as a revolutionary social and economic movement of change with a view to realise, in practical terms, the supreme principles of universal justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enunciated in the Constitution of India, to be followed by State in governance, and in particular summed up in the following extract from the Preamble of the

Constitution:

"We, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its

citizens:

Justice, social, economic and political;

Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

Equality of status and opportunity;

and promote among them all Fraternity assuring the

dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;"

2. The party shall regard its ideology as a movement for ending exploitation of the weaker sections and suppression of the deprived through social and economic change in keeping with the above stated chief aim, and its political

activity and participation in governance as an instrument of furthering such a movement and bringing in such a change.

3 This being the chief aim of the party, the strategy of the party in public affairs will be governed by the following general principles:

i. That all citizens of India being equal before law are entitled to be treated as equal in true sense and in all matters and all walks of life, and where equality

does not exist it has to be fostered and where equality is denied it has to be upheld and fought for.

ii. That the full, free, uninhibited and unimpeded development of each individual is a basic human right and State is an instrument for promoting and realising such development;

iii. That the rights of all citizens of India as enshrined in the Constitution of India and subject to such restrictions as are set out in the Constitution, have to be upheld at all costs and under all circumstances;

iv That the provisions of the Constitution requiring the State at Center and in States to promote with special care and protect the socio-economic interests of the weaker sections of the society denied to them for centuries, have to upheld and given practical shape in public affairs as a matter of prime most priority.

v. That economic disparities and the wide gaps between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' must not be allowed to override the political principle of "one man, one vote, one vote, one value" adopted by our republic.

vi. That unless political empowerment is secured for the economically deprived masses they will not be able to free themselves from the shackles of economic and social dependence and exploitation.

4. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the aims stated above the party will work specially towards the following objectives:

i. The Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the other Backward Castes, and the minorities, are the most oppressed and exploited people in India. Keeping in mind their large numbers, such a set of people in India is known as the Bahujan Samaj. The Party shall organise these masses.

ii. The party shall work for these sown trodden masses to –

a. to remove their backwardness;

b. to fight against their oppression and exploitation;

c. to improve their status in society and public life;

d. to improve their living conditions in day to day life;

iii. The social structure of India is based on inequalities created by caste system and the movement of the Party shall be geared towards changing the social

system and rebuild it on the basis of equality and human values. All those who join the party with the commitment to co-operate in this movement of social change shall be ingratiated into the told of the Party.

5. Towards the furtherance of the above noted aims and objectives the organisational units of party as designated in this constitution, shall be empowered to purchase, take on lease or otherwise acquire, and maintain, moveable or immovable property for the party and invest and deal with monies of

party in such a manner as may from time to time be determined;

ii. raise money with or without security for carrying out any of the aims and objectives of the party;

ii. to do all other lawful things and acts as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the aforesaid aims and objectives,

Provided that none of these activities will be undertaken without the express approval of the National President.

Article III. - Membership.

1. Any person who is a citizen of India, has attained the age of 18, accepts the Constitution and ideology of the Party, and is not a member of any other political or social organization whose aims and objects are not approved by the Central

Executive Committee of the Party, can become a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party by paying an annual subscription of rupees 10/-.

2. The subscription amount shall be increased by rupees ten after every three years, provided that the' Central Executive Committee of the Party shall have the power to review the subscription amount at any time.

5. Every member shall have the right to vote in election to any of the constituent units of the Party, and to contest such an election to any office of the Party, unless disqualified by any rule made under this Constitution.

Article IV. - Organisational structure.

1. The central organisation of the Bahujan Samaj Party shall include

(i) The National President of the Party.

(ii) The National Vice President of the Party.

(iii) General Secretaries of the Party.

(iv) Secretaries of the Party.

(v) Treasurer of the Party.

(vi) Central General Council.

(vii) Central Executive Committee.

2. The local organisation of the Bahujan Samaj Party shall include-

(i). A State/UT General Council for each State/UT..

(ii). A State/UT Executive Committee.

(iii).A District General Council for each District.

(iv).A District Executive Committee for each district.

3. (i). The primary unit of the Party shall be the District Executive Committee.

(ii). The District General Council shall consist of delegates each elected by 1000 members of the party registered in that district. .

(iii). The District Executive Committee shall consist of a President (who shall also be the President of the District General Council), a Vice President, such number of General Secretaries and Secretaries as may be determined under para 1 (xii) below, and a Treasurer. The President of the District Executive Committee shall be elected, either by vote or by consensus, by delegates comprising the District

General Council. The District President shall nominate other office bearers of the Committee.

(iv). The State/UT General Council shall consist of Presidents of the District Executive Committees of the Districts contained in the State/UT concerned.

(v). The State/UT Executive Committee shall consist of a President who shall also be the President of the State/UT General Council), a Vice President, such

number of General Secretaries and Secretaries as may be determined under para 1 (xii) below, and a Treasurer. The President shall be elected, either by

vote or by consensus, by delegates each elected by 5000 members of the party registered in the State/UT. The President shall nominate other office bearers of the Committee.

(vi). The Central General Council of the Party shall consist of Presidents and other office bearers of all State/UT Executive Committees.

(vii). The Central Executive Committee shall consist of the National President, the National Vice President, such numbers of General Secretaries and

Secretaries as may be determined under para 1 (xii) below, and a Treasurer.

(viii). The National President shall be elected by vote or by consensus by delegates each elected by 10000 members. The National President shall then

nominate other office bearers of the Central Executive Committee.

(ix). The office bearers of the District Executive Committee shall be removable by the President of the Committee after obtaining the approval of the President of the State Executive Committee of the State concerned.

(x). The office bearers of the State/UT Executive Committee shall be removable by the President of the Committee after obtaining the approval of the National President of the Party.

(xi) The National President shall have the prerogative to intervene at any time and to remove any office. bearer of a State/UT or District Executive Committee and direct re-election or nomination (as the case may be) to the office thus vacated.

(xii) The number of office bearers of State/UT and District Executive Committees shall be decided according to the Rules framed by the Central Executive Committee under the Constitution.

4. The National President shall preside over the general meetings of the party and the meetings of Central General Council and Central Executive Committee. Meetings of Central General Council and Central Executive Committee shall be convened by the National President as and when required and agenda for these meetings shall be approved by the National President.

5. The National President shall exercise all powers of the Central Executive Committee when the Committee is not in session.

6. In the absence of the National President all functions of the National President can be performed by the National Vice President, provided that all decisions taken by the National Vice President in such a situation shall be put up before the

National President for ex post facto approval.

7. In the event of unfortunate demise of the National President the National Vice President shall immediately and automatically assume charge as National President and shall continue to function as such until the end of the current

term of the National President.

1. The following shall constitute acts of indiscipline:

(i) To act contrary to the declared policies of the Party;

(ii). To indulge in open and public criticism of the policies of the Party.

(iii). To form a group within the Party or to give support to any member with the object to challenge the authority of a constitutionally appointed office bearer of the party;

(iv). To spread ill feelings among members or to carry out a campaign of vilification;

(v). To obstruct the working of the Party in any way;

(vi). To misappropriate the funds of the Party;

(vii). To join a party or a group or an association not recognized by the Party or whose principles are not approved by the Central Executive Committee;

(viii). To misuse authority vested by virtue of being an office bearer of the Party, or to fail to use such authority and thereby to bring about a failure of the functioning of a constituent of the Party; and

(ix). To oppose an official candidate set up by the Party in any election.

2. Any member guilty of any act of indiscipline shall be liable to punishment which may include one or more of the following:

(i). Expulsion from the Party which may be permanent;

(ii). Suspension from the membership of the Party for a specified period;

(iii). Removal from office;

(iv). Imposition of disability to hold office which may be for a specified period or permanent.

3. Any member against whom charges of indiscipline are levied shall be tried by the State/UT Executive Committee, or the Central Executive Committee as the

case may be; although the National President can directly take cognizance of any case of indiscipline.

4. A member aggrieved by an order of punishment may appeal before the National President, who may, if he considers appropriate, refer the appeal to Central Executive Committee for hearing or proceed to hear the appeal

himself.

5. The Central Executive Committee shall issue orders in cases of appeal on the approval of the National President.

6. The order/approval of the National President shall be final.

Article IX. - Amendment of the Constitution.

An amendment of this Constitution can be made by the Central General Council by a simple majority:

Provided that an amendment of this Constitution can also be carried out by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee, being the highest executive authority of the party, provided the amended provisions do not militate against the aims, objectives and basic party structure, and are aimed at more effective functioning in a given situation.

Article X. - Mandatory Provision.

1. The Bahujan Samaj Party shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and to the principles of Socialism, Secularism, and Democracy and shall uphold the Sovereignty, Unity and

Integrity of India.