By Tehelka Web Desk
The decision to remove Akash Anand from the BSP was set in motion on the very day he was in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, at his in-laws’ home, where, allegedly on the advice of his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, he was speaking to party functionaries about accommodating Siddharth’s people in Uttar Pradesh.
According to information received by Tehelka from sources familiar with the developments, Mayawati’s trusted associates informed her about the discussions. She subsequently gathered details about the matter from her close aides and sought to understand the extent of Siddharth’s alleged involvement in the party’s affairs in Uttar Pradesh.
Mayawati then shared the information with Akash Anand’s father, Anand Kumar. Following discussions, and with Anand Kumar’s consent, a decision was reached to promote his younger son, Ishan Anand, in politics, the sources said.
The sources further said that the understanding also involved severing political ties with Ashok Siddharth and removing Akash Anand from the BSP.
The developments help explain the sequence of events that has unfolded within the BSP over the past few days. On September 3, Akash Anand was relieved of the responsibilities of National Coordinator. On September 9, Mayawati indicated that his responsibilities could potentially be restored if Ashok Siddharth completely retired from politics.
Siddharth announced his retirement from politics on September 10. However, Mayawati subsequently made it clear that his retirement would not lead to Akash Anand’s return to the BSP.
In her latest post on X, Mayawati said that just as Akash Anand had been relieved of the responsibilities of National Coordinator, he should now be “completely freed” from the party.
She also accused Ashok Siddharth and Akash Anand of placing personal and familial interests above the interests of the BSP and the Bahujan movement.
The latest developments indicate that the dispute was not simply about Siddharth’s continued involvement in politics. According to sources, Mayawati had become concerned about the influence being exercised by Siddharth through Akash Anand and about attempts to place people close to him in the BSP’s Uttar Pradesh organisation.
Ashok Siddharth, a former BSP Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh, is from Agra and has been associated with the party’s organisational and political activities. His retirement announcement came a day after Mayawati publicly suggested that stepping away from politics could help clear the way for Akash Anand’s possible return.
However, Mayawati’s latest position has effectively closed that route. Despite Siddharth’s retirement, Akash Anand has not been brought back into the party. Instead, the BSP chief has indicated that he should now be completely relieved of the organisation.
The episode also points to a larger question of succession and organisational control within the BSP, with Mayawati appearing determined to ensure that political influence remains firmly within the party leadership’s control.
