Mayawati Expels Akash Anand From BSP After Father-in-Law's Retirement

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Thursday announced the expulsion of her nephew Akash Anand from the party, hours after his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth declared his retirement from political and social life.

The decision followed a public standoff over Mayawati's demand that Siddharth quit politics. In a post on X, the BSP chief described Siddharth's retirement as a correct step but said it had come too late. She argued that had the decision been taken earlier, the party, the Bahujan movement and Anand himself would have been spared adverse circumstances, and she would not have been compelled to take several tough decisions.

Mayawati said Anand's failure to share her earlier post on Siddharth's retirement indicated that family attachments weighed more heavily on him than loyalty to the party. She contrasted this with his past practice of reposting her messages to demonstrate allegiance, and questioned whether a person of divided mind could work effectively for the BSP and its movement.

She also said Siddharth should have announced his retirement immediately if he genuinely cared about Anand's future and the party's interests, alleging that the delay showed his ambition had not diminished.

"Therefore, if Shri Akash Anand wants to remain independent in the party now, he is independent," Mayawati said, effectively ending his formal association with the BSP.

The expulsion comes a week after Anand was stripped of all organisational responsibilities, including the post of national coordinator, on September 3. The BSP chief had earlier sidelined her nephew, once regarded as the party's number two and national convenor, saying he needed to become more mature.

Announcing his retirement earlier on Thursday, Siddharth said he was stepping away from political and social life. In an emotional post, he said that if he ever had to give his life for Mayawati, it would be a matter of pride for him.

Mayawati said the BSP's Ambedkarite political tradition was built on sacrifice, struggle and rising above personal and family interests. She urged party workers to follow the example of B R Ambedkar and BSP founder Kanshi Ram, placing the interests of the party and the Bahujan movement above personal ambition and position.

She said these principles were especially important as the party prepares for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where it is seeking to return to power for a fifth time. She called on workers to remain committed to rebuilding the party in the state and securing a full-majority government under the slogan "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay", and to make law and order and development central goals.