Founder Kanshi Ram sparked political consciousness among Dalits, revolutionizing the political landscape. Mayawati formed the government four times, yet over the past 15 years, BSP's political presence has diminished considerably. At present, the party holds no seats in the Lok Sabha and has merely one MLA in Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati is strategizing to re-establish BSP ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amidst challenges to preserve BSP's political identity, Mayawati initiated significant organizational changes on Thursday. It's evident from these changes that she has positioned her nephew Akash Anand as her deputy, promoting the number of national coordinators from three to six.
Mayawati promoted Akash Anand to Chief National Coordinator and announced the appointment of around a dozen state presidents, retaining Vishwanath Pal as UP's state president while curtailing the power of the influential Ramji Gautam.
Mayawati unveils a new team
On Thursday, BSP chief Mayawati inducted Akash Anand as the Chief National Coordinator. Ramji Gautam, Rajaram, Randhir Singh Beniwal, Lalji Medhankar, Atar Singh Rao, and Dharmveer Singh Ashok were appointed national coordinators, increasing the number from three to six.
Lalji Medhankar, Atar Singh Rao, and Dharmveer Singh Ashok were freshly appointed to national coordination, while Rajaram, Ramji, and Beniwal continued in their roles. Additionally, Mayawati assigned roles such as co-incharges alongside key coordinators.
Akash takes flight in BSP
Positioned prominently, Akash Anand became the Chief National Coordinator, only reporting to Mayawati as the organizational second-in-command. Although not formally declared as Mayawati's political successor, his elevation within BSP indicates his standing.
Akash's role involves reviewing all aspects of party coordination, from central to state levels, and directly reporting to Mayawati. Expected to play a key role in the 2027 assembly elections, Akash will influence strategy, ticket distribution, campaigning, and organizational activities. This structural change aims to fortify BSP's election position.
Ramji Gautam's responsibilities altered?
In a reshuffle, Ramji Gautam, as a national coordinator, was tasked with overseeing states like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar. Previously, his remit spanned over half the country. Notably, Mayawati stripped him of control over Rajasthan, marking a blow to Gautam who desired its leadership.
Intriguingly, last days witnessed Gautam's rise alongside ousted Akash Anand and Ashok Siddharth from BSP. Within four months, Mayawati retracted several state responsibilities from Gautam, limiting him to four states while newly appointed national coordinators managed three each. In UP, Gautam remains distant, unlike Akash Anand with nationwide authority.
Vishwanath Pal continues leadership
Mayawati maintains trust in Vishwanath Pal as the state president for BSP, marking the first repeat appointment in this role. This step is part of a strategic plan aimed at strengthening BSP's position for the 2027 assembly elections. Originating from the non-Yadav OBC community, Vishwanath Pal represents BSP's core voter base of the past.
BSP chief appointed district presidents, including Rajesh Tanwar for Delhi, Ramakant Pippal for Madhya Pradesh, and Shyam Tandon for Chhattisgarh. Other leaders for various states were named, reinforcing BSP’s presence across India in preparation for the upcoming elections.
