Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has announced that her nephew, Akash Anand, has been completely freed from the party. The decision, made public on September 10, 2026, came only hours after Anand's father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member, Ashok Siddharth, announced his complete retirement from political and social life.
This dramatic move marks a major escalation in the internal power struggle within the BSP, coming just a week after Anand was stripped of his post as national coordinator. The rapid sequence of events highlights the absolute authority of Mayawati, widely known within the Bahujan movement as "Behenji," as she prepares the party for the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The Ultimatum and Siddharth's Sudden Retirement
The catalyst for the latest fallout was an explicit political ultimatum delivered by Mayawati on September 9, 2026. She publicly declared that the BSP would only consider restoring organizational responsibilities to Akash Anand if his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, withdrew entirely from politics. Mayawati accused Siddharth, who had been expelled from the party on August 2, 2026, of repeatedly prioritizing personal ambitions over the party's mission and negatively influencing Anand.
In response, Siddharth published an emotional statement on social media on September 10, 2026, confirming his immediate retirement. Addressing Mayawati with the traditional moniker "Behenji" (respected sister), which signifies her maternal authority over the party's cadre, Siddharth wrote: "Most respected Behenji, I wish to convey that your command means more to me than anything else in the world. My personal relationships and family pale in comparison to your orders." Despite his compliance, he defended his record, asserting he had never worked against the party and had barely met Anand in recent months.
The Accusation of Divided Loyalties
Instead of paving the way for Akash Anand's reinstatement, Siddharth's retirement prompted Mayawati to sever ties with her nephew entirely. In a public statement, the BSP chief accused Anand of being "double-minded" and allowing family relationships to compromise his political duties. She specifically cited Anand's failure to repost her previous social media message as evidence that his personal ties outweighed his commitment to the Bahujan movement.
Mayawati stated that Anand appeared to care less about the true interests of the party and his own political career than about his family connections. "Therefore, the party leadership believes it is best to completely free him from the party, just as he was previously relieved of all key responsibilities associated with the crucial post of National Coordinator on September 3, 2026," Mayawati announced. She added that if Anand wished to remain independent, he was free to do so.
A History of Elevation and Sudden Setbacks
This is not the first time Akash Anand has faced severe disciplinary action from his aunt. His political career has been a volatile cycle of rapid promotions followed by abrupt demotions. First projected as Mayawati's political successor in December 2023 to appeal to younger voters, Anand was stripped of his responsibilities during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign following controversial remarks he made at a rally.
The pattern repeated in 2025 when he was expelled from the BSP in March, only to be readmitted in April after issuing a public apology. By late 2025, he had made a significant comeback, being appointed national convenor and tasked with managing the party's campaign in Bihar. However, on September 3, 2026, Mayawati once again curtailed his role, stating he lacked "political maturity" and introducing his younger brother, Ishan Anand, into the party hierarchy as a Chief Sector In-charge.
The Role of Ashok Siddharth in the BSP Hierarchy
Ashok Siddharth's position as both a veteran party leader and Anand's father-in-law placed him at the center of this organizational crisis. A former Rajya Sabha MP and Legislative Council member, Siddharth had spent 35 years within the BSP, holding key organizational roles across multiple states. His expulsion in August 2026, alongside national coordinator Randhir Singh Beniwal, signaled a deep-seated rift over party discipline.
In his retirement letter, Siddharth claimed that his political rivals within the BSP had conspired against him, falsely accusing him of trying to seize control of the party and misleading Anand. He implored Mayawati not to link his retirement to her nephew's future, writing: "Before being my son-in-law, Akash Anand is your nephew and Anand's son; your blood runs in his veins." However, Mayawati rejected this plea, maintaining that family considerations must not interfere with the party's broader goals.
Restructuring the BSP Cadre for the 2027 Campaign
With Akash Anand sidelined and Ashok Siddharth retired, the BSP's leadership remains exclusively concentrated under Mayawati. The party's immediate focus shifts to restructuring its cadre ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where it seeks to reverse a series of poor electoral performances.
The BSP has not announced any immediate successor to the national coordinator role, though the recent induction of Ishan Anand suggests a potential shift in the family's internal dynamics. The party's state units are scheduled to hold organizational meetings in Lucknow to realign their campaign strategies under Mayawati's direct supervision.
