Akash Anand, nephew of BSP chief Mayawati, has been removed as national coordinator for the second time in a year, replaced by his father, Anand Kumar, and senior leader Ramji Gautam. His removal raises concerns about his political prospects amid BSP’s struggles. Once seen as a promising heir, Akash was reinstated in June 2023 after being ousted prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where BSP won no seats, reflecting its declining influence. Mayawati has indicated a commitment to finding a true successor dedicated to the party’s mission, hinting at Akash’s diverging path amidst the BSP’s electoral challenges.
Lucknow:
Akash Anand, nephew of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) head Mayawati, has been stripped of his position as the party’s national coordinator for the second time in a year. Mayawati has appointed two new national coordinators in his place — Akash’s father, Anand Kumar, and senior party figure Ramji Gautam. A release from the BSP indicates that Akash Anand has been relieved of all party roles, prompting speculation about his political prospects.
These significant decisions were made during a major BSP meeting in Lucknow, presided over by Mayawati, with party leaders from across the nation in attendance. The gathering assessed the BSP’s tactics, particularly in light of its challenges in Uttar Pradesh, a state it previously governed, and beyond.
A Chequered Journey
Akash Anand, who studied in Delhi and Noida before earning his MBA from the University of Plymouth in the UK, was promoted as the future of the BSP and the political successor to Ms. Mayawati. He first surfaced on the political map in advance of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Marketed as a modern representative, he is credited with significantly enhancing the BSP’s social media outreach. At the end of 2023, he was appointed as the national coordinator, officially positioning him as the second-in-command within the BSP. However, just before last year’s Lok Sabha elections, Mayawati removed him from the role, citing his need for “maturity.” His father took over his responsibilities. The BSP faced a devastating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, securing no seats. Subsequently, Akash Anand was reappointed as national coordinator in June, but now, just eight months later, he finds himself dismissed once again.
Ms. Mayawati remarked that she would not designate anyone as her political heir and asserted that her family would not align itself with any other political lineage in the future.
The Build-Up And A Big Hint
The first clear sign that Akash Anand was losing favor with the BSP leader appeared last month when his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, was expelled from the BSP due to anti-party activities. In a post on X, Ms. Mayawati confirmed that former MP Siddharth and Nitin Singh were ousted for factionalism and other anti-party behavior.
Shortly thereafter, the BSP chief implied a significant message. In a lengthy thread, she stated that as the political successor of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, she would devote her life to liberating Dalits from political bondage and social despair. Without mentioning names, she added that her genuine heir would have to be someone dedicated to advancing the movement against all odds, a comment interpreted as a veiled dig at Akash Anand.
A Floundering Political Force
The BSP’s leadership vacillations are occurring against the backdrop of substantial electoral failures in recent years, casting doubts on its future in politics. The BSP, which captured 206 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in 2007, managed to win only one seat in the 2022 state elections. In the Lok Sabha polls, the party secured 10 seats in 2019 while allied with the Samajwadi Party, but this time it chose to go solo and ended up empty-handed, while emerging political entities like the Chandrashekar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party eroded the BSP’s traditional support base.