Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati has reappointed her nephew, Akash Anand, as the party’s national coordinator and declared him her successor.
On May 7, Mayawati had removed Akash from his position as national coordinator and from being her political successor, citing his lack of full maturity. His campaign events were subsequently cancelled.
Mayawati Reinstates Akash Anand as BSP National Coordinator
Akash Anand, the nephew of BSP chief Mayawati, was reappointed as the party’s national coordinator on Sunday, following a poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier, on May 7, Mayawati had removed the 28-year-old Akash from his role, stating he needed more “maturity.” Despite this, Anand Kumar, Akash’s father, retained his position within the party.
The decision to reinstate Akash was made during a review meeting of the BSP’s disappointing election results, where the party failed to win any seats, marking its worst-ever performance. In contrast, during the 2019 elections, the BSP won 10 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh through an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.
The review meeting, chaired by Mayawati, included Akash Anand, BSP leaders, party coordinators, and district unit presidents from Uttar Pradesh.
Previously, on December 10 of the prior year, Mayawati had announced Akash Anand as her successor. Akash, who holds an MBA from London, was initially given the role of national coordinator at that time.
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Akash Anand Takes Charge of BSP’s Ticket Distribution
Akash Anand, nephew of BSP chief Mayawati, has been assigned the task of reviewing the party’s performance. All party coordinators will submit their review reports to him.
Previously, Akash Anand was the BSP’s star campaigner, responsible for improving the party’s prospects nationwide, except in Uttar Pradesh. Now, he will focus specifically on Uttar Pradesh.
Akash Anand will oversee everything from ticket distribution to campaigning for the upcoming by-elections in Uttar Pradesh. The BSP plans to contest in all assembly bypolls.
This time, Akash Anand’s input will be crucial in deciding ticket distribution.
About a week ago, Mayawati had already planned to reappoint Akash as the national coordinator, advising him to be more restrained. On June 16, Akash met Mayawati in Lucknow to discuss past issues.
Who Is Akash Anand?
Akash Anand began his political career in 2017 at the age of 22. He holds an MBA from London.
In June 2019, during the BSP’s national executive meeting, he became the party’s national coordinator.
In December last year, at 29, he was named Mayawati’s political heir.
Why Leadership Change in BSP?
The specific reason behind Akash Anand’s removal remains unclear, but it followed an incident where he, along with other party members, was booked by Sitapur police in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the 2024 Lok Sabha Election after making derogatory remarks against the BJP.
Following a series of setbacks, including a poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls, BSP members have been calling for a leadership change to ensure the party’s survival.
According to a report by news agency IANS, the BSP’s performance declined after Akash Anand was restricted from campaigning. The BSP failed to win any seats in the Lok Sabha elections and holds only one seat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, jeopardizing its national party status. This marks the party’s worst electoral performance since its inception in 1984.
A former party coordinator mentioned that the BSP has been declining since the 2012 Assembly polls, with Mayawati making all critical decisions, including alliances and ticket distribution, without internal discussion. For the BSP to recover and perform well in the 2027 Assembly elections, a leadership change is urgently needed.
Additionally, a former BSP MLA stated that the party leadership forced many leaders to seek opportunities in other parties and expelled those who remained loyal.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. Who is Akash Anand?
Ans. Akash Anand is Mayawati’s nephew and the current national coordinator of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Q.2. Why was Akash Anand removed and reinstated?
Ans. He was removed due to maturity concerns but reinstated to oversee BSP’s strategy and campaigns.
Q.3. What role does Akash Anand play in BSP’s ticket distribution?
Ans. He leads ticket distribution and campaign planning, focusing particularly on Uttar Pradesh.
Q.4. Why is there a call for leadership change in BSP?
Ans. Following electoral setbacks, party members seek new leadership to revive BSP’s fortunes.
Q.5. What is BSP’s strategy for upcoming elections?
Ans. BSP plans to contest all assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh under Akash Anand’s leadership.
