BSP supremo Mayawati rarely exhibits such fervor regarding her family's political maneuverings. Commenting on the removal of her nephew Akash Anand from BSP, Mayawati stated in a press release,
"Regarding Mr. Akash Anand's matter, as you know, he is married to Mr. Ashok Siddharth’s daughter. Now, after Mr. Ashok Siddharth's ousting from the party, the extent of his influence on his daughter and consequently on Akash needs to be observed."
The BSP president expressed disappointment, stating that the impact of recent events appears negative. Consequently, Akash Anand has been relieved of all party responsibilities in the interest of the party movement.
Holding Akash Anand's father-in-law Ashok Siddharth responsible for the developments, Mayawati declared that the harm done to the party and Akash's political career lies solely with Ashok Siddharth.
The 30-year-old Akash Anand, who honorably calls Mayawati 'Bua Maa', was once seen as a significant political prospect by her. Over a brief journey with BSP, Akash experienced numerous highs and lows. This marks the second time in two years that Mayawati has removed Akash Anand from his roles as BSP's national coordinator and heir apparent.
Akash, the son of Mayawati's younger brother Anand Kumar, received his schooling in Delhi and completed an MBA in London.
Politics Taught by Bua
Returning to India in 2017, Akash accompanied Mayawati to Saharanpur in May, a site of Thakur-Dalit conflict. Mayawati introduced him to the intricacies of politics, grooming his career through the social engineering of Saharanpur. It marked Akash's initial political training.
In September 2017, Mayawati formally introduced Akash to party workers. This period coincided with BJP's grand comeback in UP, reducing BSP to 19 seats.
By 2019, Akash had assumed a significant role within the party, credited with bringing Mayawati onto Twitter.
Source: aajtak
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Akash's engagement intensified, especially when Mayawati allied with the Samajwadi Party.
Following the Election Commission’s 48-hour restriction on Mayawati's campaign during the elections, Akash delivered his inaugural solo rally, joined on stage by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and then RLD president Ajit Singh.
Akash steadily became more entrenched with BSP and the movement, establishing a recognizable face among Dalit voters.
In 2021, Mayawati appointed Akash as BSP's national coordinator. With a potent presence on Twitter and a bold oratory style, he gained popularity, particularly among youth, though misunderstanding some of Mayawati’s strategic approaches to BSP’s assertive stance.
In 2023, Mayawati entrusted him with significant responsibilities in the assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Although results were disappointing, his efforts were acknowledged.
In Rajasthan, BSP contested 184 seats, winning only two, as the party’s vote share slumped from two percent to 1.81%.
Laying Political Ground Against Chandrashekhar
In December 2023, Mayawati declared Akash her political successor during a Lucknow meeting. This move aimed at countering the rising Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad as the Lok Sabha elections loomed. By choosing her London-educated nephew, Mayawati sought new directions for BSP beyond her stewardship. At a rally in Nagina for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Akash’s attack on Chandrashekhar fortified his assertive image.
Tasked with considerations for Dalits, minorities, OBCs, and tribals, Akash was challenging old-guard lethargy, pushing BSP toward digital relevance.
Rapid Rise, Unexpected Fall
To test Akash's leadership, Mayawati assigned him oversight of the party in Delhi and Haryana. However, neither assembly saw a favorable outcome. As reported by Indian Express, none of BSP's 35 contested seats in Haryana were won, with the vote share dropping to 1.86%. In Delhi, none of BSP's 68 candidates won, and the vote share fell to 0.57%.
The Rally of Rift
Before this, a rally saw an overtly aggressive Akash facing Mayawati’s reprimand.
On May 7, 2024, following the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Mayawati abruptly removed Akash from his roles as national coordinator and heir, citing his "lack of full maturity".
Source: aajtak
Following Akash Anand’s vigorous attacks on BJP in a viral rally at Sitapur on April 19, strategic tensions arose. Analysts suggest that his confrontational style might incidentally favor Samajwadi Party, an unintended consequence displeasing to Mayawati.
Notably, Mayawati had consistently refrained from directly targeting BJP during the campaign, instead choosing to critique Congress and Samajwadi Party.
Return Post-Election
Within party circles, it was speculated that his removal during the campaign linked to these elements. Later, in an interview with Indian Express, Akash explained his speeches could inadvertently turn aggressive, driven by enduring "injustices" faced by Dalits.
Post-2024, Akash Anand's political reintegration into BSP was marked by a promotion, handling organizational and campaign responsibilities nationally.
Father-in-law Painted as Antagonist
Climbing the BSP success ladder, Akash married Bundelkhand politician Ashok Siddharth's daughter, Pragya Siddharth, on March 27, 2023.
Ashok Siddharth, initially part of Mayawati's close circle, held titles as an MLC, and later a Rajya Sabha MP from 2016 till 2022.
The political tide turned when, on February 12, 2024, Mayawati dismissed Ashok Siddharth from party politics through a social media post, citing persistent factionalism despite warnings.
She accused Ashok Siddharth, Akash's father-in-law, of dividing the party into factions nationwide—a grievance intolerable to Mayawati.
Pragya and Akash’s marriage was considered facilitated by Mayawati's trust in Ashok Siddharth, crucial in reinstating Akash as national coordinator.
On the subsequent Sunday, Mayawati labeled Ashok Siddharth the 'villain', indicating his sole responsibility for the discord. She highlighted Ashok Siddharth's daughter's influence on Akash, closely monitoring its extent. Observing the lack of positive outcomes so far, BSP has drawn learnings.
Mayawati declared a shift in her brother Anand Kumar's approach to his children's marriages, opting for non-political familial ties to safeguard BSP's movement integrity.
Trust in Brother Anand Immovable
A BSP press release underscored Mayawati's unshaken confidence in her brother Anand Kumar. Designating him as the national coordinator, responsible for all party operations in Delhi, she affirmed Anand had never disappointed and diligently protected the party's movement. She expressed her commitment to not declaring a successor during her lifetime.
