NISHAD Party

Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal is a political party in India. It was founded on 16 August 2016.^[1] The party was formed for empowerment of Nishad, Kewats, Bind, Beldar, Mallah, Sahani, Kashyap, and Gondi communities whose traditional occupations centred on rivers, such as boatmen or fishermen. Its founder, Sanjay Nishad, is a former member of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). According to Nishad, a separate party representing these communities was essential as they had played an integral role in the victories of BSP and Samajwadi Party.^[2][3][4][5]

The Nishad Party nominated 100 candidates in various constituencies in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election in alliance with Peace Party of India, the Apna Dal and the Jan Adhikar Party.^[3] In the election swept by the BJP, the NISHAD party won only the Gyanpur constituency.^[6] Party leader Sanjay Nishad came third in Gorakhpur Rural, polling 35,000 votes, against 83,686 votes by the winner Bipin Singh.^[7]

For the 2018 by-elections to Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats, Samajwadi Party united with several smaller parties, including Nishad Party, to extend its social base beyond Yadavs and Muslims. Sanjay Nishad's son, Praveen Kumar Nishad was selected as the Samajwadi candidate in Gorakhpur, where the Nishad community is the second-largest demographic group.^[7][8] In a major upset, Praveen Nishad wrested the seat from BJP, which had not lost the seat since 1989. The victory margin was 21,000 votes.^[9]

Nishad party contested the 2022 UP State Election in alliance with BJP and won six seats.^[10][11]