Escalating her confrontation with nephew Akash Anand, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday expelled him from the party saying he has now been “completely freed” hours after Akash’s father-in-law Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from active politics, claiming that the BSP chief’s wish was more important to him than anything else.
She has removed Anand from the post of party’s national coordinator thrice in over two years. This is the second time he has been expelled from the party. In the same way, he is now completely free and relieved from the party, adding if Anand wanted to remain independent, he was free to do so. She also accused Akash Anand of remaining more attached to his father-in-law than to the BSP and its movement. He also specifically asked Mayawati not to link his retirement with Anand’s return, arguing that Anand had spent two decades under his aunt’s guidance and could not have been misled by him. She added that he has been fully relieved. He blamed opponents in the BSP for engaging in anti-party activities and conspiring against him. Siddharth clarified that he was not misleading Anand or trying to take over the BSP.
Earlier on March 3, 2025, Mayawati had unceremoniously removed Akash from national coordinator’s post and expelled him as well. In a post on X, the BSP chief said: “Akash Anand was relieved of all important responsibilities of the highly crucial position of national coordinator on September 3. Announcing his retirement from active politics, Siddharth said Mayawati’s wish was more important to him than anything else and that he had remained committed to the BSP’s mission for 35 years. He was expelled again in August 2026. Earlier reporting noted: Mayawati expels nephew Akash Anand for 2nd time; his father-in-law quits politics Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Thursday expelled her nephew Akash Anand, 31, from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the second time, a week after removing him as its chief national coordinator for the third time since 2024, following his reinstatement in March.
He also said that he would remain indebted to the BSP chief all his life for making an ordinary man like him a member of her family. The BSP chief described it as a step taken “too late” and questioned whether Siddharth’s intentions had actually changed. In a series of posts on X, Mayawati said had Siddharth taken the decision earlier, “neither the BSP, the Bahujan Samaj nor Akash Anand” would have suffered and she would not have been forced to take repeated tough decisions concerning them. Siddharth responded on Thursday by announcing his “sanyaas”, saying he had never worked against the BSP’s interests and had barely met Anand in recent months. Mayawati said he had been removed over alleged indiscipline and failure to follow party directions and had returned to Uttar Pradesh despite being assigned responsibilities outside the state. She had then said he would not be taken back. Earlier reporting noted: Siddharth said that instead of harming the party’s mission, he was renouncing political and social life.
On Wednesday, Mayawati indicated that her nephew could regain an organisational role if Siddharth retired from politics. On Wednesday, Mayawati accused Siddharth of repeatedly placing personal and family interests above the party and the Bahujan movement. Earlier reporting noted: The expulsion came despite Anand’s father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, announcing his retirement from active politics after Mayawati indicated on Wednesday that her nephew could regain an organisational role if Siddharth did so. In a post on X, Mayawati on Thursday said Anand is now completely free from the party.
