Lucknow, Former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth on Thursday announced his retirement from politics and social life, a day after BSP chief Mayawati linked his retirement to any future reinstatement of responsibilities to her nephew and his son-in-law Akash Anand.
“You made a small worker like me a member of your family.
In an emotional post on X, Siddharth said he was retiring from political and social life “right now”, adding that if he ever had to give his life for Mayawati, it would be a matter of pride for him. “Mayawati’s order is greater than anything else in the world for me,” Siddharth said, adding that he had been dedicated to the BSP’s mission for the past 35 years and had tried to discharge every responsibility assigned to him to the best of his ability. Siddharth said all relationships were insignificant before Mayawati’s order. This is a debt I cannot repay in this lifetime,” he said. Referring to Mayawati’s allegation that he had tried to influence Anand, Siddharth said he had not even met his son-in-law for several months, let alone advised him. “If you feel today that my remaining in political and social life is harming the Bahujan mission created by our saints, gurus and great personalities, then I am retiring from political and social life right now,” Siddharth said. He added that he would remain indebted to Mayawati for life and said that giving his life for her would also be a matter of pride for him.
