Mayawati expels nephew Akash Anand amid party discord

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati has taken a decisive step by expelling her nephew, Akash Anand, considered her political successor, from the party.

The decision follows his response to a showcause notice, which Mayawati criticized as "selfish and arrogant," suggesting he was influenced by his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, who has also been expelled from the party.

In a series of posts on social media platform X, Mayawati expressed disappointment in Akash's response, noting it lacked remorse and political maturity.

She stated, "He (Akash Anand) should have repented and shown maturity. Instead, his lengthy reply was selfish, arrogant, and influenced by his father-in-law."

Mayawati emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity and discipline inspired by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and Kanshiram.

In doing so, Akash Anand has been removed from the party, following in the footsteps of Ashok Siddharth, who was expelled for allegedly creating divisions within the party, especially in key areas such as Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, Mayawati had dismissed Ashok Siddharth for what she described as a "heinous act" of weakening the party by causing a split. Akash Anand, previously seen as Mayawati's heir, was stripped of all party responsibilities yesterday.

This isn't the first time Mayawati has taken such steps; last year, Akash was removed from all significant party roles, labeled as "immature."

Despite this, he was reinstated a month later as the party's National Coordinator, suggesting his importance within the BSP. However, the recent developments underscore a clear shift in Mayawati's stance regarding her political heir.