Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati’s decision to remove her nephew Akash Anand from all party positions for the second time in a year has triggered strong reactions from political rivals. The move has drawn criticism, particularly from the Samajwadi Party (SP), which questioned her reluctance to bring forward the next generation of leadership.
Ashutosh Verma, spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party, took a swipe at the BSP chief, stating, “For the last few days, we have been witnessing Behenji taking some strange decisions within her party.” He pointed out the inconsistencies in her approach, noting, “Akash Anand was initially made the national coordinator, then in the middle of the Lok Sabha elections, he was labeled immature and removed. After the elections, he was reinstated, and now once again, he has been removed.”
Verma further remarked that such frequent changes in leadership raise questions about Mayawati’s seriousness in fighting elections and her reluctance to promote new leadership within the party. The BSP, once a dominant force in Uttar Pradesh politics, has struggled in recent years, and the latest developments have fueled further speculation about its internal challenges.
Echoing similar sentiments, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai commented that Mayawati seems to be caught in family disputes, which, he claimed, are now affecting the party’s functioning. “Mayawati ji has now become entangled in her family’s issues. The entire family is facing disruptions, and this is reflecting in her political decisions,” Rai said.
Mayawati, however, has attributed her decision to internal factionalism within the BSP. In a statement, she justified the removal of Akash Anand and his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth, citing their role in creating divisions within the party. “Being an honest and loyal disciple and successor of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, I have expelled Ashok Siddharth, who is also the father-in-law of Akash Anand, from the party in the interest of the BSP. He has committed the heinous act of weakening the party by dividing it into factions across the country, including in Uttar Pradesh. This is absolutely intolerable, and such division was even evident at his son’s wedding,” she stated.
This is not the first time Mayawati has taken a drastic step against Akash Anand. In May 2024, she had stripped him of all key positions in the party, citing his inexperience and immaturity. However, a month later, she reappointed him as the party’s national coordinator, signaling that he remained her chosen political heir. The latest move, however, casts uncertainty over his political future and raises questions about BSP’s internal cohesion.
As the party navigates these internal challenges, political observers believe that such instability could further weaken BSP’s electoral prospects, especially as it prepares for upcoming state and national elections. The frequent leadership changes and internal rifts could impact the party’s standing among its core voter base, already witnessing shifts in allegiance over the past few years.
