‘Final Decision’: Mayawati Says No Political Role for Nephews Akash, Ishan in BSP

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has ruled out political roles for her nephews Akash Anand and Ishan Anand, putting an end, at least for now, to speculation over whether either of them would emerge as a future face of the BSP.

Mayawati described the decision as final, saying she does not want family members to occupy political positions in the party. The move comes amid a dramatic reshuffling of the BSP's leadership ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

Akash Anand's political journey comes to an abrupt halt

Akash Anand, 31, was once widely seen as Mayawati's political successor. She had named him her successor in December 2023, and he subsequently emerged as one of the BSP's prominent young faces.

However, his political career within the party has been marked by repeated appointments and removals.

On September 3, Mayawati removed Akash from the post of national coordinator but initially allowed him to remain an ordinary party worker. She later indicated that his political responsibilities could be restored if his father-in-law, former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth, completely retired from politics.

Siddharth announced his retirement on September 10. Mayawati, however, subsequently said Akash would not be brought back into the party structure. She criticised him for not reposting her earlier message asking Siddharth to retire, interpreting the silence as a sign that his personal ties were taking precedence over the party.

Ishan Anand had briefly emerged as the new young face

The latest decision is particularly significant because Mayawati had only recently elevated Ishan Anand, Akash's younger brother.

On September 7, Ishan was appointed chief sector in-charge for two BSP organisational sectors covering states outside Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He was tasked with reviewing organisational activities and reporting to his father, Anand Kumar, who is the BSP's national vice-president.

The appointment had immediately triggered speculation that Mayawati could be looking at Ishan as an alternative to Akash in the party's next generation of leadership.

However, Mayawati's latest statement appears to close that possibility as well.

Why Mayawati is stressing 'no family politics'

Mayawati has repeatedly sought to distinguish the BSP from parties that she accuses of promoting dynastic politics.

Her latest announcement is being seen as part of an attempt to reinforce the message that the BSP's political positions should not automatically pass to members of her family.

The BSP chief has also emphasised discipline and organisational loyalty amid the recent turmoil involving Akash and Ashok Siddharth. Her decision to remove Akash despite Siddharth's eventual retirement underlines the seriousness with which she is treating the issue.

BSP faces a major leadership challenge

The developments come at a difficult time for the BSP.

The party won just one of Uttar Pradesh's 403 Assembly seats in 2022 and failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat in the state in the 2024 general election. Its vote share in Uttar Pradesh also fell to around 9.4% in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The emergence of Chandrashekhar Azad as a young Dalit political face has further complicated the BSP's effort to retain its traditional support base, particularly among younger voters.

With the 2027 Assembly election approaching, Mayawati therefore faces the challenge of rebuilding the party's organisation while maintaining her own central authority.

What next for the BSP?

Mayawati's latest decision leaves the question of the BSP's future leadership open.

Akash Anand, once projected as her successor, is now outside the party structure. Ishan Anand, despite his recent organisational elevation, has also been ruled out of a political role according to Mayawati's latest announcement.

For the moment, Mayawati remains the undisputed centre of authority within the BSP.

The bigger question is who will eventually carry the party forward when the veteran leader decides to step aside. With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh election approaching, the answer could have major implications for the BSP's future and its ability to remain a significant force in state politics.