Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday announced the expulsion of her nephew Akash Anand from the party, escalating an internal dispute that has unfolded over his role and political conduct.
The decision came days after Anand was removed from the key post of National Coordinator. Mayawati said the latest action was taken after she remained dissatisfied with his approach towards the party and its political movement.
In a post on X, Mayawati alleged that Anand had been giving greater importance to personal relationships than to his political responsibilities, the interests of the BSP and his own political future.
She also referred to Anand’s failure to repost a message published on her official social media account, citing it as one of the issues behind her dissatisfaction.
Mayawati questioned whether Anand could effectively contribute to the BSP and its movement if, according to her, his priorities remained divided between party responsibilities and personal relationships.
The BSP chief said Anand had earlier been given significant responsibilities within the organisation but would now be completely separated from the party.
“Therefore, it seems better to the party members” to relieve Anand entirely from the BSP, Mayawati said while announcing the latest action.
The move follows the political exit of Ashok Siddharth, a former Rajya Sabha member who had been closely associated with Mayawati and was also linked to Anand through family ties.
Earlier on Thursday, Siddharth announced that he was stepping away from political and social life. His announcement came after Mayawati had indicated that his political retirement could have a bearing on Anand’s future within the BSP.
Siddharth, in an emotional post on X, said he had decided to retire immediately and maintained that he had never worked against the interests of the BSP. He also rejected suggestions that he had attempted to influence Anand.
Siddharth said he had not met Anand for several months and therefore had not advised him on political matters.
Mayawati’s decision marks another major development in the BSP’s internal leadership structure. Anand, who had been projected as an important figure in the party’s future, has now been removed not only from his organisational responsibilities but from the party itself.
The BSP chief, meanwhile, urged party workers to remain focused on strengthening the organisation and preparing for the political battle ahead in Uttar Pradesh.
She called on BSP members to remain committed to the party’s stated objective of establishing what she described as a government based on law and order and development under the party’s “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay” principle.
