Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has dismissed her nephew Akash Anand, 31, from the party for the second time, just days after he was removed from his role as chief national coordinator. This decision came even as Anand’s father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, announced his departure from active political life. Earlier, Mayawati had suggested that Anand might be reintegrated into the party’s organizational roles if Siddharth retired. However, following Siddharth’s retirement announcement, Mayawati declared that Anand was now completely free from any responsibilities within the BSP.
Mayawati accused Siddharth and Anand of prioritizing personal and familial interests over the party’s objectives and its Ambedkarite movement. She expressed skepticism about Siddharth’s intentions, citing his delayed retirement as evidence, and questioned Anand’s dedication to the BSP’s cause. This development is the latest in a series of changes regarding Anand’s position within the party. He was initially removed from his national coordinator role in May 2024 after a controversy during the Lok Sabha election campaign. Although he was reinstated months later and reappointed to the same position in May 2025, the recent expulsion marks another significant shift.
Last week, Mayawati commented on Anand’s apparent lack of maturity for managing significant organizational duties. In a move that might indicate the direction of the party’s future leadership, she introduced another family member, her younger nephew Ishan Anand, to senior party leaders. Akash Anand had been considered as Mayawati’s successor for several years, having been appointed national coordinator in 2019 and officially named her political heir in December 2023. His latest removal comes while the BSP gears up for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, after Anand had recently spoken at rallies in Hathras and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Despite internal calls for younger leadership within the BSP, Mayawati, now 70, has affirmed her commitment to continue leading the party. She intends to oversee the candidate selection process, the election campaign, and fundraising activities for the upcoming 2027 polls. Her decision to remove Anand underscores her resolve to maintain control over the party’s direction, even as the BSP navigates its strategy for the forthcoming elections.