Mayawati appoints younger nephew Ishan Anand as National Coordinator days after elder brother Akash was removed from party responsibilities
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has handed a key national organisational responsibility to Ishan Anand, days after his elder brother Akash Anand was removed from all party responsibilities.
Ishan, the younger son of BSP national vice-president Anand Kumar, was appointed the party’s National Coordinator at a meeting of the BSP’s All-India Committee chaired by Mayawati at the party headquarters in Lucknow on Wednesday. The BSP’s press release said Mayawati approved the appointment.
The development completes a striking reversal in the roles of the two brothers within the BSP. Akash had earlier held the National Coordinator position before Mayawati first removed him from the post and subsequently relieved him of all party responsibilities. Ishan has now been given that same key organisational position.
The sequence is also significant in the context of Tehelka’s September 10 exclusive, which reported that discussions after Akash’s removal included the possibility of promoting his younger brother, Ishan, in the party. Tehelka’s report, based on sources familiar with the developments, said the decision followed discussions involving Akash’s father, Anand Kumar.
From Akash to Ishan
Mayawati had initially removed Akash as National Coordinator earlier this month, saying he needed greater maturity and that major responsibilities could not be entrusted to him at that stage. She subsequently announced that Akash would be kept completely away from party responsibilities.
On September 20, Mayawati said that Akash and his sister Deepika Anand would remain outside party responsibilities, while Ishan would be given a respectable role in the organisation. Wednesday’s meeting has now formalised that decision.
The BSP’s latest statement, however, does not describe Ishan’s appointment as a succession decision or designate him as Mayawati’s political successor.
Ishan thanks Mayawati
Ishan, who has completed his LLM and legal studies, attended the meeting with his father Anand Kumar.
After his appointment, he thanked Mayawati for entrusting him with the responsibility of National Coordinator and said he would discharge his duties with honesty and dedication under her guidance.
He also invoked the legacy of BR Ambedkar and BSP founder Kanshi Ram, saying he would work to take forward the party’s activities and movement.
Appointment comes amid election preparations
The decision was announced at a meeting that also focused on the BSP’s preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
According to the party, discussions covered preparations to contest the elections on the BSP’s own strength, mobilisation of manpower and resources, and selection of candidates. The implementation of earlier organisational directions was also reviewed and further organisational changes were announced.
The BSP said it would work towards forming its government in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time, while urging workers to work with honesty and dedication.
Mayawati’s family policy
The latest appointment comes after several changes in Mayawati’s approach towards giving organisational responsibilities to members of her family.
She had earlier said that family members should not automatically be given positions in the BSP and cited Kanshi Ram’s approach to family and political responsibility. She subsequently decided to give Ishan a role, while Akash and Deepika would remain outside party responsibilities.
The BSP’s Wednesday meeting therefore marks another shift: Akash is out of the party structure, while Ishan has been brought into a prominent national organisational position.
For now, the formal decision is limited to Ishan’s appointment as National Coordinator. What larger political role, if any, he may eventually acquire remains to be seen.
