In a surprising political shake-up, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has removed Akash Anand from all party positions, marking a significant leadership shift. This decision comes after a key party meeting, where BSP chief Mayawati appointed her brother and party general secretary Anand Kumar, alongside Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam, as the new national coordinators.
Mayawati reiterated the importance of Uttar Pradesh’s Bahujan community in shaping the state’s and the country’s progress. She linked Akash Anand’s removal to the expulsion of his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, who she accused of creating internal divisions that weakened the party’s organizational structure. Siddharth was allegedly involved in factional politics, and Mayawati cited incidents surrounding his son's wedding as part of his attempts to destabilise the BSP.
According to Mayawati, Akash Anand’s association with Siddharth had begun to influence his political decisions in ways that were not beneficial to the party. She held Siddharth entirely responsible for both damaging the BSP and derailing Anand’s political trajectory. To restore stability, she placed her trust in Anand Kumar, praising his loyalty and leadership capabilities.
This move is notable given the party’s earlier stance on Akash Anand. After BSP’s defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mayawati had reappointed him as the national coordinator. Previously, on May 7, she had removed him from the post, stating that he needed more political maturity. Yet, just months earlier, on December 10, 2023, she had declared him her political successor.
The latest decision signals a recalibration of BSP’s leadership strategy, possibly indicating Mayawati’s intent to consolidate power within the party’s traditional framework.
