Mayawati Removes Nephew Akash Anand from BSP Posts; Declines to Name Successor

Lucknow, March 2: In a major reshuffle within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has removed her nephew Akash Anand from all party positions, declaring that she will not appoint any successor during her lifetime. The announcement was made during a high-level party meeting attended by BSP office-bearers from across the country in Lucknow on Sunday.

Akash Anand Removed; Ashok Siddharth Blamed for Party Split​

Mayawati, known for her firm control over the BSP, explicitly blamed Akash Anand’s father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, for harming both the party and her nephew’s political career. Siddharth was expelled from the BSP last month over allegations of promoting factionalism and anti-party activities. According to Mayawati, Siddharth had split the BSP into two factions nationwide, deliberately weakening its internal unity.

The BSP supremo emphasized that loyalty to the party and its movement surpasses personal relationships, including family ties. "The party and the movement are supreme; relations like brother, sister, and their children come later," Mayawati stated firmly.

Anand Kumar and Ramji Gautam Elevated as National Coordinators​

Mayawati announced key appointments, naming her brother Anand Kumar and senior party leader Ramji Gautam as national coordinators. Anand Kumar currently serves as the BSP's national vice-president and has been commended by Mayawati for his unwavering dedication to the party.

Highlighting Kumar’s contributions, Mayawati stated, "Be it paperwork, income tax matters, or court-related issues, Anand Kumar handles everything efficiently. He even left his government job and personally cared for BSP founder Kanshi Ram during his illness."

Anand Kumar has reportedly decided to marry his children into non-political families to avoid future internal disputes similar to those caused by Ashok Siddharth.

BSP Criticizes Government over Inflation and Poverty​

During the party meeting, Mayawati addressed key socio-economic issues affecting the country. She strongly criticized both the central and Uttar Pradesh governments, describing their budgets as "unrealistic and detached from ground realities." Mayawati emphasized the government's inability to tackle inflation, poverty, unemployment, and backwardness effectively.

"India continues to remain a nation of poor people despite being termed a rich country," Mayawati remarked.

BSP Reaffirms Commitment to Ambedkar’s Ideals​

Mayawati reiterated the BSP's dedication to the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, pledging continuous efforts to uplift marginalized communities, including Dalits, laborers, and economically backward sections.

She also outlined plans for the upcoming celebrations of BSP founder Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary, scheduled for March 15. Party workers across the country will pay tribute at significant memorial sites such as the Kanshi Ram Memorial in Lucknow and Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida.

Mayawati Targets Samajwadi Party Following Bypoll Defeat​

Taking aim at the Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati questioned their credibility after the SP's recent defeat in the Milkipur Assembly bypoll, even though BSP did not field a candidate. "Whom will the SP blame now for its defeat?" she asked, calling the SP and BJP "two sides of the same coin."

She asserted that only BSP, with its Ambedkar-inspired policies, can successfully defeat BJP and other "casteist" parties in the future elections.