Mayawati asserts sole authority over BSP ticket distribution, limits nephew's role

The 70-year-old politician also rubbished social media claims that Akash Anand had been given the authority to finalise the candidates. Through her post on X, she clarified Anand's role in the upcoming election.Mayawati and her nephew Akash Anand (Photo-ITG)In the midst of finalising strategies for the upcoming UP assembly election in 2027, the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief, Mayawati, issued a stern message, saying that all the candidates for the upcoming poll will be finalised by her and not by her nephew Akash Anand.In a post on X, the four-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said, “Whereas, not only in UP alone but across the entire country, wherever Assembly general elections are held from time to time, or Lok Sabha general elections are held in the country, there too, candidates are given final form by me.”In addition to this, she also mentioned that she held several meetings with the party functionaries in the party’s state office in Lucknow and had given necessary directions to them to finalise the names of the candidates at the state and divisional levels. She also said that she had finalised the names of two dozen candidates by speaking to them and completing other formalities. The 70-year-old politician also rubbished social media claims that Anand had been given the authority to finalise the candidates. In the post, she also clarified the role of Anand in the upcoming polls.“For those assembly seats in UP where the party's candidates have been finalised, their announcements are also being made by the party's senior officials by holding small and large public meetings with my permission. Under this, Mr Akash Anand will also announce candidates for some seats by holding party public meetings,” she wrote, adding that Anand will announce the names of some of the candidates, who are finalised by Mayawati. The announcement came a month after the party found itself at the centre of a ‘cash-for-ticket’ allegation. The controversy surfaced after a media sting operation allegedly recorded senior BSP functionaries discussing payments required to secure a party ticket.The investigation claimed that the aspiring candidates were asked to pay between Rs 3.35 crore and Rs 3.5 crore for an Assembly election ticket, while securing a meeting with BSP chief Mayawati reportedly cost Rs 5 lakh.Mayawati, however, rejected the sting operation's allegations and expressed confidence in the party functionaries.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Aug 1, 2026 10:55 IST