Who was the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party?

The correct option is Kanshi Ram.

Explanation:
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a national-level political party in India that was founded in 1984. The party was formed to represent the "Bahujans" (literally meaning the majority of the people), which refers to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), along with religious minorities.

Let us look at the history and contributions of the key figures mentioned in the options to understand why Kanshi Ram is the founder:

1. Kanshi Ram: He was a charismatic leader and social reformer who dedicated his life to the empowerment and political mobilization of the Bahujans. Before founding the political party, Kanshi Ram established organizations like the Backward and Minority Communities Employees' Federation (BAMCEF) in 1978 and the Dalit Soshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS4) in 1981 to organize and raise awareness among oppressed communities. He formally launched the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on April 14, 1984 (on the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar).

2. Mayawati: She is a prominent leader of the BSP and has served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh multiple times. She was mentored by Kanshi Ram and succeeded him as the leader of the party, but she was not the founder.

3. B.R. Ambedkar: Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a legendary social reformer who pioneered the movement against social discrimination. While the BSP draws its core ideology and inspiration from his teachings and struggles, Dr. Ambedkar passed away in 1956, long before the BSP was founded.

4. Jagjivan Ram: Popularly known as Babuji, he was a prominent Dalit leader, freedom fighter, and veteran politician who served as a minister in the Indian Government for several decades and was also the Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was associated with the Indian National Congress and other political formations, not the BSP.

Therefore, it was Kanshi Ram who founded the Bahujan Samaj Party.