Mayawati 'frees' newphew Akash Anand from BSP after his father-in-law quits politics

BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday (September 10, 2026) said her nephew Akash Anand has been "completely freed" from the party, shortly after his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics.The development came a week after the BSP removed Mr. Anand as its national coordinator at a national-level meeting of party office-bearers in Lucknow on September 3. Ms. Mayawati had then said he needed greater political maturity and would not be given major organisational responsibilities for the time being.She questioned whether Mr. Anand, whose personal and family interests she said appeared to outweigh his political career and the party's interests, could effectively work for the BSP while remaining "double-minded".Ms. Mayawati said Mr. Anand's failure to repost her earlier X post showed his greater attachment to family ties than the BSP and its movement."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 in a fresh post.Correct step, though taken very late: Mayawati on Ashok Siddharth’s retirementMs. Mayawati also described Mr. Siddharth's decision as a "correct step" taken late and said his retirement had been sought by the party in the larger interest of the Bahujan Samaj Party, its movement and Mr. Anand. "Today, the announcement by Ashok Siddharth to retire from politics is a correct step, though taken very late," she said.Earlier, former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics and social life, after BSP chief Mayawati linked his retirement to any future reinstatement of responsibilities to her nephew and his son-in-law Akash Anand.In an emotional post on X, Mr. Siddharth said he was retiring from political and social life "right now", adding that if he ever had to give his life for Ms. Mayawati, it would be a matter of pride for him.Ms. Mayawati further said that had Mr. Siddharth taken the decision earlier, the BSP, the Bahujan community and movement, as well as Mr. Anand, would not have had to face "continuous adverse circumstances".She said she had been "compelled to take tough decisions" involving Mr. Siddharth amid preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, particularly as the party aimed to return to power in the State for a fifth time.She said the BSP's Ambedkarite political tradition was based on sacrifice, struggle and keeping personal and family interests away from the movement and that all party workers should rise above personal ambitions and the desire for positions.Ms. Mayawati also questioned Mr. Siddharth's intentions, saying his "announcement should have come immediately after her call for him to retire." "If Ashok Siddharth had even a little genuine concern for the bright future of his son-in-law Akash Anand and the larger interests of the BSP and its Ambedkarite Bahujan movement, he would have announced his retirement without delay," she said.She alleged that the delay showed that Mr. Siddharth's ambitions and intentions had not changed completely.Further, the BSP supremo said this indicated that both Mr. Siddharth and Mr. Anand were more attached to personal and family interests than to the success of the party and its movement. "If Akash Anand is less concerned about the real interests of the party and the movement and his own political career, and more attached to family relationships, then it is natural to ask how he can work for the good of the BSP and the movement while remaining double-minded," she said.On Wednesday (September 9, 2026), Mayawati had said the BSP would consider restoring Mr. Anand's responsibilities only if Siddharth completely retired from politics. Mr. Siddharth was expelled from the BSP on August 2 over alleged repeated indiscipline and anti-party activities.Ms. Mayawati on Thursday (September 10, 2026) also urged BSP workers to "remain focused on the party's objective of returning to power in Uttar Pradesh." She called on party workers to confront political opponents and work with full commitment towards establishing the BSP's "iron rule" in the State based on law and order and development, with the principle of "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay" (welfare and happiness of all) as the overarching goal.