Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday reinstated her nephew Akash Anand as the party’s national coordinator, reversing his September 10 expulsion and marking his third return to a key organisational role since 2024 as she said the decision was taken in the interest of the party and the movement.
Mayawati expelled Siddharth again in August, after which he announced his retirement from active politics. Hours after that announcement on September 10, Mayawati expelled Akash, citing concerns over his conduct and his ability to place the party and the Bahujan movement above family considerations. Mayawati first removed Akash as BSP’s national coordinator and withdrew his status as her political successor in May 2024, before restoring both positions in June that year.
Because he had withdrawn from social media at the time, he said he had not reposted a social-media message issued by Mayawati concerning Siddharth.
Akash also supported Mayawati’s action against Siddharth and said family relationships should not come above the BSP’s mission. On Monday, she said she hoped Siddharth’s retirement from active politics would improve the situation within the BSP.
Akash’s father Anand Kumar and Ishan also supported the proposal. “I am not going to any other political party. The decision followed Akash’s October 2 apology to Mayawati in which he sought another opportunity to work under her leadership, backed her action against his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth and ruled out joining any other political party. Akash broke his silence on October 2.
Mayawati said Ishan conveyed that he was willing to work according to her directions and did not need an organisational post to show his commitment to the party. In a post on X, Mayawati said the BSP had taken several recent decisions after considering their impact on the organisation and its movement. She said Akash’s functioning had remained “quite satisfactory” for a considerable period, but developments following Siddharth’s political retirement had necessitated organisational changes. Several party functionaries urged her to accept Akash’s request for another chance, Mayawati said. “After considering all these aspects, in the interest of the party and the movement, it has been decided to give Akash Anand another opportunity to work as the national coordinator,” she said. Addressing Mayawati as “Behen ji”, his political guru and inspiration, he said the BSP was his family and asked to be allowed to serve the party again. Earlier reporting noted: In a post on X, Mayawati said that after “much deliberation”, the BSP had decided to give Anand another opportunity to work in the party as its national coordinator in the interest of the party and the movement.
Neither today nor ever,” he said, amid indications from leaders of other parties that they were open to his joining them. Earlier reporting noted: Akash Anand back in BSP fold after apology to Mayawati, gets key post again BSP national president Mayawati has reinstated her nephew Akash Anand as the national coordinator of the party (File photo) Earlier reporting noted: LUCKNOW: BSP national president Mayawati on Monday took her nephew Akash Anand back into the party and reappointed him as its national coordinator, three days after he apologised to her and expressed his willingness to serve the party under her leadership.
