Inside story: How Mayawati forgave Akash Anand and cleared his BSP return

Mayawati has reinstated Akash Anand as BSP national coordinator after his public apology. The move signals a possible larger role for him in Uttar Pradesh as the party prepares for the 2027 Assembly election.BSP chief Mayawati and her nephew Akash Anand. (File Photo/PTI)Lucknow,Oct 7, 2026 03:39 ISTBahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has taken back her nephew Akash Anand and reinstated him as the party's national coordinator, but the latest return could mean more than just a restoration of his organisational post. Behind the scenes, Anand is expected to become increasingly active in Uttar Pradesh politics as the BSP prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections.The immediate test of his renewed role could come at the BSP's major gathering in Lucknow on October 9 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. Anand is not expected to share the stage at the event, but party sources indicate that he could be involved in managing the organisational arrangements and the backroom strategy in Lucknow.His political activity is also expected to become more visible in the coming weeks. On November 1, Anand is likely to address a public meeting in an Assembly constituency in Ayodhya, where the BSP could announce Jitendra Singh Babloo as its candidate.Anand's latest return marks the third time he has been brought back into a key role after being removed from the BSP since 2024. Mayawati reinstated him on Monday, days after he publicly apologised to her and sought another opportunity to work under her leadership. She restored him as national coordinator, saying the decision was taken in the interest of the party and the Bahujan movement. WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN MAYAWATI AND AKASHBehind the latest reconciliation was a lengthy meeting between Mayawati and Anand at her Lucknow residence, according to people familiar with developments inside the BSP. The meeting came after weeks of uncertainty over his political future.A key issue was Anand's relationship with his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth, a former BSP leader whose political role had been at the centre of the latest dispute. Anand had earlier been removed from the party after Mayawati accused him of placing family interests above the BSP and its movement. Anand subsequently apologised publicly to Mayawati, calling her his political mentor and "Buaa Maa", and said the BSP was not merely a political organisation for him but his family. He also reaffirmed his commitment to the party and sought another opportunity to serve it.Mayawati, in her latest statements, has sought to put the repeated exits and returns in perspective. She said Anand had been active in the BSP even before his marriage and argued that his association with Siddharth had contributed to the circumstances that led to his repeated removal.On Tuesday, a day after Anand's reinstatement, Mayawati said there would now be no need to separate him from the BSP because Siddharth had retired from active politics. She also expressed the hope that Anand would now continue his political journey without another organisational break.A BIGGER ROLE IN UTTAR PRADESHFor now, Anand has returned as national coordinator, but his role in Uttar Pradesh could gradually expand. He had been kept largely away from active state politics during earlier phases of his association with the BSP.The timing of his return is significant, with the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election approaching. His re-entry could give Mayawati another prominent face to deploy for organisational mobilisation and public meetings, although the extent of his role in the state campaign will depend on decisions taken by the BSP leadership.The party has also been reshaping its next-generation leadership. Anand's younger brother Ishan Anand had been appointed national coordinator in September after Akash was relieved of his responsibilities, but that arrangement was reversed with Akash's return.A CAREFULLY MANAGED COMEBACKThe latest developments suggest that Mayawati is keen to remove the uncertainty surrounding Anand's position in the party. Her repeated public statements on the issue have also sought to clarify why he was removed and why he has now been brought back.Anand, meanwhile, has struck a conciliatory tone since his reinstatement. He has thanked Mayawati for restoring his responsibility and said the recent period had taught him important lessons, while promising to place the party's mission above personal considerations.At the Lucknow meeting following his return, Anand was welcomed by senior BSP leaders, including Satish Chandra Mishra and Uttar Pradesh unit chief Vishwanath Pal, who greeted him with the party's blue cap.With Mayawati restoring him to a key organisational position and signalling that another separation is unlikely, the coming weeks will show how prominently Akash Anand figures in the BSP's preparations for the Uttar Pradesh polls.- Ends