Politics · India Bureau
Mayawati severs ties with nephew Akash Anand in BSP shake-up
The Bahujan Samaj Party chief has formally removed her nephew from the party, citing divided loyalties and prioritization of family interests over party commitments. The move follows the recent exit of Akash Anand's father-in-law from politics.
LSN India ·
New Delhi — Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday announced that her nephew Akash Anand has been "completely freed" from the party, bringing to a head mounting tensions within the organization's leadership hierarchy.
Mayawati's decision came shortly after Akash Anand's father-in-law, former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth, announced his retirement from politics. In her statement, the BSP chief questioned whether Anand could effectively serve party interests while maintaining what she characterized as a "double-minded" approach to his political and personal commitments.
The party leader cited specific instances of what she viewed as divided loyalties, including Akash Anand's failure to repost one of her social media messages on X (formerly Twitter). Mayawati described this omission as evidence of his greater attachment to family ties than to the BSP and its broader movement objectives.
This formal separation follows Akash Anand's earlier removal from the position of national coordinator on September 3, 2026. Mayawati stated that party members had expressed the view that he should now be completely severed from the organization rather than maintaining an ambiguous status within its ranks.
Mayawati's statement emphasized that while Akash Anand is now free to pursue independent political interests if he chooses, he no longer holds any position or affiliation with the BSP. The development marks a significant internal upheaval within the regional political party.