The post Akash didn’t repost: Why Mayawati has cut her nephew loose from BSP
The development came after the party supremo asked Ashok Siddharth, a former BSP leader and father-in-law of Akash Anand, to quit politics. He resigned on Thursday.
A post by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on X that her nephew Akash Anand did not purportedly repost has become the latest flashpoint between him and his aunt — and has now led to his second ouster from the party.
In a new 10-point post on Thursday, Mayawati said Akash’s failure to share an earlier post of hers concerning Ashok Siddharth — Akash’s father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha MP — showed his greater attachment to family ties than the BSP and its movement. She said the party had now decided to “completely free” him from the BSP.
The development came shortly after Siddharth, a BSP leader, announced his retirement from politics following Mayawati’s direction that he step aside in the larger interest of Akash’s political future. Mayawati called Siddharth’s retirement the “right step”, but said it had come “too late”. She then addressed Akash’s decision not to repost her earlier message.
“Therefore, the people in the party feel that just as he was relieved of all the important responsibilities of the post of national coordinator on September 3, 2026, he should now also be completely freed from the party from today. Therefore, if Akash Anand wants to remain independent in the party, he is free to do so; that is, he has now been completely freed from the party,” she wrote.
Akash at the centre of the dispute
Siddharth announced his retirement Thursday morning, saying Mayawati’s command was more important to him than his family and political relationships.
In his farewell message, Siddharth sought to make clear that Akash’s relationship with Mayawati came before his relationship with him as his father-in-law.
He said Akash had spent two decades under Mayawati’s guidance. “Unke andar aapka khoon bahta hai, unhone jeevan ke do dashak aapki chhatra-chhaya aur dekh-rekh mein bitaaye hain. (Your blood runs through him, and he has spent two decades of his life under your guidance and care).”
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Siddharth also rejected the suggestion that he had become an influence over Akash, saying: “Mere jaisa mamooli sa karyakarta bhala unko kya hi gumraah kar paayega (How could an ordinary worker like me possibly mislead him?).”
Mayawati, however, alleged that both Siddharth and Akash had become more attached to personal and family interests than to the success of the BSP and the Bahujan movement.
She also questioned whether Akash was more concerned about family relationships than the party and movement, and if he could effectively work for the BSP.”
1. आज श्री अशोक सिद्धार्थ द्वारा राजनीति से संन्यास लेने की घोषणा अति-देर से उठाया गया यह सही क़दम है।
2. वैसे लोगों का यही कहना है कि अगर यह फैसला वे काफी पहले ही ले लेते तो बी.एस.पी., बहुजन समाज व बहुजन मूवमेन्ट तथा उनके दामाद श्री आकाश आनन्द को भी लगातार विपरीत परिस्थितियों…
For the BSP, Akash’s exit comes at a crucial point. With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, the party now has to reckon with the loss of the nephew Mayawati had once positioned as her political heir.
In May last year, she elevated Akash as the BSP’s chief national coordinator. Three months later, she appointed him the party’s national convener, signalling his formal rehabilitation within the party hierarchy after a public fallout.
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Then, just a week ago, she had dropped hints of sidelining Akash, saying he needs to become more mature and it would be inappropriate to assign him significant responsibilities at this point.
Akash was also absent from a meeting of BSP’s national office-bearers in Lucknow. However, his younger brother Ishaan Anand was present and occupied the chair usually reserved for Akash.
Ishan has also increasingly been seen alongside Mayawati in recent months, adding another dimension to the BSP’s next-generation leadership question.
Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development.
Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity.
Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More
