Putting party above family: Mayawati praises Akash Anand's maturity, wisdom

Mayawati said Akash Anand, recently reappointed as the BSP's national coordinator, had put the party and its movement above family ties after Siddharth's retirement, adding that the Bahujan community had high expectations from him and he was working hard to fulfil his responsibilities.Akash Anand will address BSP public meetings in Bulandshahr on October 28, Saharanpur on November 2, Ayodhya on November 20, Agra on November 22 and Kanpur Nagar on November 29.Lucknow,Oct 18, 2026 10:46 ISTBSP chief Mayawati has said her nephew Akash Anand is showing maturity and placing the party above family ties after his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth retired from politics, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Mayawati also announced a series of programmes that Anand will address across Uttar Pradesh and other states, while ruling out Siddharth's return to the party.In a post on X on Sunday, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said Anand, who was recently reappointed the BSP's national coordinator, had prioritised the party and its movement over family and personal relationships after Siddharth's retirement from politics. The former Rajya Sabha MP retired from politics in September.Mayawati said people from the Bahujan community had high expectations from Anand and that he was working hard to fulfil his responsibilities. According to Mayawati, Anand will address BSP public meetings in Bulandshahr on October 28, Saharanpur on November 2, Ayodhya on November 20, Agra on November 22 and Kanpur Nagar on November 29. He will also attend a seminar organised by the BSP in Punjab on Constitution Day on November 26.On December 6, the death anniversary of BR Ambedkar, Anand will address a seminar or public meeting in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district, she said. 1. , , ... () ... , - , , ’ ’ 2. 28 2026 , 02 , 20 , 22 29 2026 ... 3. , 26 2026 ’ ’ ... ’ ’ , - . () 06 2026 / 4. ... - , 5. - , , , 6. , 7. , , ( ) - , ... — Mayawati (@Mayawati) October 18, 2026Mayawati said Anand's renewed involvement in party activities showed that Siddharth was more responsible than her nephew for the past "unpleasant developments". She said Siddharth had been expelled from the party and advised to retire from politics.The BSP chief cautioned party workers against rumours and attempts by "selfish elements" to mislead them. She urged them to work wholeheartedly to ensure the success of the programmes assigned to Anand."There is not an iota of truth in the rumours that Ashok Siddharth, like Akash Anand, will be taken back into the party," Mayawati said, according to PTI. She made it clear that Siddharth would not be readmitted under any circumstances.In another announcement, Mayawati said Akash Anand's brother, Ishan Anand, had completed his law studies in London and would assist the BSP as an active worker at its central office in Delhi under her guidance. He would primarily help with election-related work and other paperwork, she said.Mayawati's announcements set out Akash Anand's upcoming party programmes, confirmed Ishan Anand's role at the BSP's Delhi office and ruled out Ashok Siddharth's return to the party.- Ends