Priyanka Tiwari
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The latest shocking development within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is that party’s chief Mayawati has removed her nephew Akash Anand from all party positions for the second time within a calendar year. This time, she has removed him and appointed two National Coordinators instead; his father Anand Kumar and Senior Party Leader Ramji Gautam. This action has led to troubling speculations regarding the Akash Anand’s political prospects as well as the politics within the BSP.
This decision was made in a colossal BSP meeting held in Lucknow where leaders of the party from all over the country were present. The party was trying to gain back their political position in Uttar Pradesh and surrounding states, so they discussed how wayward their prospects were. During the meeting, Mayawati stated, "As long as I am alive, there will be no heir to the party. Personal relationships hold no value when it comes to the BSP and the Ambedkarite movement."
What Caused the Change?
The Mayawati never-ending saga revolveing over Akash Anand has him constantly adjusting isn’t as straightforward and allows for deeper analysis. The masterplan is undoubtedly multifaceted from an internal rivalry point of view, something repugnant can be inflicted on the party, and the continuous fear of a split is staggering. To put it simply, it seems to be that way concerning her assumption that Akash was being courted by his father in law Ashok Siddharth. The assumption, in this situation, is incredibly dangerous.
According to reports, Mayawati is concerned about a potential factional split within the BSP in particular regions of Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati feared that Ashok Siddharth, a former BSP MP, was gaining influence over Akash and thus working towards trying to weaken the party, which she greatly feared. She recently decided that in an attempt to nip Akash in the bud, she would force him out of the picture completely to block him from straying the party further.
It is evident that the BSP has been struggling with growing internal discrepancies and Akweria's decision seems to salvage whatever control is left in the party. She was said to be worried by the attempts of Ashok Siddharth, who have been rumored to be towards causing internal splits in the party and Akash's decision making might have been greatly influenced by those splits.
Mayawati does not want for there to be any rival power structures in the party and vow was the word she lived by. His princess's crown in the party that she once bestowed upon Akash Anand and Akash soon proved irresponsible for the party during elections, so she had to Ammak. Mayawati’s partial claim of power submission was evident when she reinstated Akash in June 2024 and supported his return but proved to the world she would never accept a loss by expelling him again.
The Checkered Journey
From being seen as the future of the BSP to now, Akash Anand, an MBA graduate from the University of Plymouth, assumed the role of Mayawati’s undoubted political heir. He joined the political landscape before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and digitized the party’s outreach. In late 2023, he was made national coordinator for BSP and, hence, was Mayawati’s number two.
Mayawati demoted him before the general elections in May 2024, however, to his shock, released him from the role stating that he needed to become more “mature.” His father, Anand Kumar, replaced him. After BSP performed stupendously poor in the Lok Sabha elections and lost all seats, Akash was reinstated in June 2024. Well, now eight months later, Akash has again been vivisected and there is no reason provided by the party as to why he lost this role.
The Build-Up and a Big Hint
Akash Anand appears to be losing his standing in the BSP as his father in law, Ashok Siddharth, was marked for expulsion out of the BSP for anti party endeavors. In a direct post on X, Mayawati spoke against Siddarth accusing him, alongside fellow leader Nitin Singh, for tearing the party apart from within and undermining electoral chances.
Not long after, Mayawati hinted at her disappointment with Akash Anand. She issued a long statement in which she emphasized her loyalty to the Ambedkarite movement, adding that her successor would be someone committed to the cause irrespective of family connections. This comment was interpreted as a discreet attack on Akash’s character.
A Political Power In Disarray
The internal conflicts of the BSP is emerging against the backdrop of the party's continuous loss of power and seats. After winning 206 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections of 2007, the party was reduced to a single seat in 2022. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP won 10 seats while in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, but failed to win any in 2024 when they ran independently. Other emerging Dalit focused political parties like Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azaad Samaj Party have further reduced the party’s vote share.
“This is a big notification from Mayawati – BSP’s survival and ideological purity are most important, even more than blood relations. It will be interesting to see whether the party is able to make any of the ground that was lost or will infighting become even worse, ” Rajinder Kumar, the political analyst, states.
The Journey of Akash Anand’s Political Turmoil
•10 Dec: Mayawati designates Akash Anand as her chosen heir and made him BSP’s national coordinator.
•1 May: Akash Anand is ousted for making contentious remarks during the Lok Sabha elections.
•23 June: Akash Anand is reinstated before the Delhi Assembly elections.
•12 Feb: His father-in-law Ashok Siddharth is expelled from BSP on account of anti-party activities.
•2 March: Akash Anand is stripped off all the party positions once again.
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