Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday removed her nephew Akash Anand from all party positions, appointing his father Anand Kumar and Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam as national coordinators in his place. She also declared that she would not name a successor in her lifetime.
Mayawati, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, asserted that the party’s interests come before family ties, emphasizing that the BSP and its movement are supreme.
This decision comes after she had earlier sacked Akash Anand last year, only to reinstate him later and name him as her political heir. However, citing internal conflicts, she has once again stripped him of his responsibilities.
In a strong rebuke, Mayawati blamed Akash Anand’s father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, for dividing the party and weakening its foundation. “He also ruined the political career of Akash Anand,” she said.
Last month, Siddharth was expelled from the BSP over charges of factionalism and anti-party activities.
New Leadership and Party Strategy
Mayawati has entrusted Anand Kumar and Ramji Gautam with the responsibility of strengthening the BSP’s organizational structure across India.
She praised her brother Anand Kumar, who also serves as the BSP’s national vice-president, for his dedication to the party. “Be it paperwork, Income Tax matters, or legal battles, he has always handled them with commitment,” she noted, adding that he had also cared for BSP founder Kanshi Ram during his illness.
To prevent further political disruptions, Anand Kumar deliberately married his children into non-political families, she revealed, ensuring that no one could harm the party like Ashok Siddharth did.
Political Roadmap and Criticism of Governments
During the meeting, Mayawati emphasized the importance of expanding the BSP’s reach to all sections of society and resolving organizational shortcomings.
She strongly criticized both the central and Uttar Pradesh governments, calling their budgets “unrealistic and disconnected from ground realities.”
Accusing the government of neglecting key issues, she said, “Rising inflation, poverty, unemployment, and backwardness continue to worsen, yet the government remains indifferent.”
She further argued that “India continues to be a country of the poor despite being called a rich nation.”
Reaffirming the BSP’s commitment to B.R. Ambedkar’s ideals, Mayawati vowed that the party would continue working for the upliftment of marginalized communities.
