# Republican Party of India

The Republican Party of India (RPI, often called the Republican Party or simply Republican) was a political party in India. It had its roots in the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation led by N. Sivaraj and B. R. Ambedkar. The Party was established by Dr. Br. Ambedkar in 1956 which was to serve as an entry point to the Republican Party of India (RPI).

## Origins
### Scheduled Castes Federation

The All-India Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) was an organisation in India founded by N. Sivaraj and B. R. Ambedkar in 1942 to campaign for the rights of the Dalit community. An executive body of All India SCF was elected in the convention. N. Sivaraj from Madras State was elected as president and P. N. Rajbhoj from Bombay State was elected as general secretary, including founder body member P. T. Madhale and others. The germs of the AISCF were to be found in the Madras Depressed Classes Federation, founded by Rettamalai Srinivasan and N. Sivaraj, which was later known as the Madras Scheduled Castes Party in 1936. Again, it was renamed as the Madras Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) in 1938. In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party (ILP), which had its base in the erstwhile Bombay and Central Provinces. In 1942, Madras SCF and Bombay and Central Provinces-based ILP were transformed into the All-India SCF.
There was also a party called Scheduled Caste Federation in Pakistan after Partition. Ramnarayan Rawat stated that the SCF "created the space for an alternative to Congress-type 'nationalist' politics in post- 1947 Uttar Pradesh".

### Republican Party of India

On 30 September 1956, B. R. Ambedkar had announced the establishment of the "Republican Party of India" by dismissing the "Scheduled Castes Federation", but before the formation of the party, he died on 6 December 1956. After that, his followers and activists planned to form this party. A meeting of the Presidency was held at Nagpur on 1 October 1957 to establish the party. At this meeting, N. Sivaraj, Yashwant Ambedkar, P. T. Borale, A. G. Pawar, Datta Katti, Dadasaheb Rupwate, Abba P. T. Madhale were present. The Republican Party of India was formed on 3 October 1957. N. Sivaraj was elected as the President of the party.
In 1957, six members of the party were elected to the second Lok Sabha. This is the biggest achievement of Ambedkar's party so far.

## Factionalism

After Ambedkar's death, RPI suffered severe internal strife. Several distinct parties claim the name of RPI. There are more than 50 factions of RPI. In 2009, all factions of RPI except Prakash Ambedkar's Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh reunited to form a united "Republican Party of India (United)". One of the main people responsible for this was Rabbi Madan. Later, Republican Party of India (Gavai) and Republican Party of India (A) led by Ramdas Athawale split again from the united party. Splinter groups of RPI include:
* Republican Party of India (A) of Ramdas Athawale
* Republican Party of India (A) of M.G. Nagamani
* Peoples Republican Party Jogendra Kawade
* Republican Party of India (United)
* Republican Party of India (Gavai) of R. S. Gavai and Rajendra Gavai
* Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh of Prakash Ambedkar
* Rashtriya Republican Party of Annasaheb Katare
* Republican Party of India (S) of Shyam Gaikwad
* Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram worked with RPI for eight years.