In a significant development within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), leader Mayawati has once again expelled her nephew, Akash Anand, from the party. This decision comes shortly after she had removed him from his position as chief national coordinator. Despite his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth’s recent declaration to retire from active politics, Mayawati made it clear that Anand is now fully disconnected from the BSP, ending his responsibilities within the organization.
Mayawati has openly criticized both Siddharth and Anand, accusing them of prioritizing personal and family interests over the party’s goals and its Ambedkarite movement. She expressed skepticism about Siddharth’s true intentions, suggesting that his delayed retirement indicates an unchanged mindset, and questioned Anand’s dedication to the party’s mission.
This decision is the latest in a series of changes concerning Akash Anand’s role within the BSP. Previously, he was removed from the position of national coordinator in May 2024 after a controversy surrounding remarks made during the Lok Sabha election campaign. Although he was later reinstated and again appointed as chief national coordinator in May 2025, Mayawati recently stated that Anand still lacks the necessary maturity for significant organizational responsibilities. In light of these events, she has introduced her younger nephew, Ishan Anand, to senior party leaders.
Anand had been considered a potential successor to Mayawati, having been appointed as national coordinator in 2019 and formally named her political heir in December 2023. His latest expulsion occurs as the BSP gears up for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, following Anand’s recent public addresses in Hathras and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Despite internal calls for a younger leadership, Mayawati, at 70, remains firm in her role at the helm of the BSP. She has reiterated her commitment to leading the party through the upcoming elections, overseeing candidate selection, campaign strategies, and fundraising efforts for the 2027 polls.