Akash Anand has been removed from his key post as National Coordinator of the Bahujan Samaj Party some days after the removal of his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth.
On January 20, Mayawati seemed to be furthering her family’s hold on the party as both her nephews- Akash and Ishan had stood by her in a party meeting. On February 12, she removed Siddharth on charges of anti-party activities.
BSP chief Mayawati removes Akash Anand from all the posts of the party. Anand Kumar and Ramji Gautam have been made the National Coordinators of the party
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 2, 2025
(Source - Mayawati/X) pic.twitter.com/u0hRHo5Lyu
Today, in a meeting with party leaders, she said that Siddharth’s daughter would be influenced by his removal and that she would also influence Akash – a matter that had to be taken with utmost seriously, for it would not have positive outcomes. Siddharth, she said, had tried to split the party, an act she termed as ‘despicable’.
She also referred to BSP founder Kanshi Ram, who had adhered to the rule that family members did not have claim as natural heirs. Mayawati said that while Kanshi Ram had never forbidden family members from working for the BSP with honesty and by following its principles, there was no space for anti-party activities. Thus, in removing these relatives she was only being true to her teacher.
She further said that it is not the party, but Akash’s father-in-law who is responsible for her nephew's removal and for also spoiling his political career.
Akash’s place is to be taken up by Anand Kumar, Mayawati’s brother, who has been very active in the party even earlier. It is he who will now accompany Mayawati on all her political meetings. He is also the national vice-president of the party.
Though her brother’s wealth has risen manifold in the past years and he has gone from a clerk in a government department to a well-off businessman whose many ventures include hotels; Mayawati said that he had never indulged in any such activity that could harm the party.
The other coordinator is long-time BSP leader Ramjii Gautam, whom Mayawati said had her complete faith and that of her younger brother too.
While Anand Kumar will mainly be stationed in Delhi and look after the party’s affairs; Gautam will tour various states to take stock of the party’s position.
She also said that the bitter experience with Siddharth had led her brother to decide that he would now seek matrimonial alliances for his children only with non-political families.
