Mayawati accuses expelled nephew Akash Anand of spreading false health rumours

Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Sunday accused her expelled nephew, Akash Anand, of circulating false rumours about her health, saying he had telephoned her personal secretary to enquire whether she was unwell.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the four-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the call was received by office in-charge Alok Kumar. According to her account, Mr. Anand asked about her well-being, was told she was fine and occupied with party work, and then ended the call with a request that she not be informed of the conversation.

Ms. Mayawati linked the episode to those who have been removed from the party, saying a rumour about her being ill was doing the rounds within BSP ranks. She said Mr. Anand continues to take direction from his father-in-law, former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth, rather than thinking for himself.

The remarks come days after Mr. Anand was removed from the party, shortly after Mr. Siddharth announced his retirement from politics. He was stripped of the post of national coordinator on September 3.

Once seen as Ms. Mayawati's chosen political successor, Mr. Anand is the son of her brother, Anand Kumar. He had been given key organisational responsibilities but has been removed from positions more than once since 2024. The BSP chief had recently said he could remain only as an ordinary party worker and not hold any leadership role.

Turning to the party's electoral plans, Ms. Mayawati asked workers to mobilise for the coming elections and to take the progressive ideas of Kanshi Ram to the public. She also urged them to highlight the achievements of previous BSP governments, stating that the party must aim to form a government in Uttar Pradesh.