Mayawati ‘frees’ nephew Akash Anand after father-in-law quits politics

Akash Anand has been "completely freed" from the party, BSP chief Mayawati announced on Thursday, shortly after her nephew's father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics.

She questioned whether Anand, whose personal and family interests she said appeared to outweigh his political career and the party's interests, could effectively work for the BSP while remaining "double-minded".

Mayawati said Anand's failure to repost her earlier X post showed his greater attachment to family ties than the BSP and its movement.

"Therefore, the people in the party feel that just as he was relieved of all the important responsibilities of the post of national coordinator on September 3, 2026, he should now also be completely freed from the party from today. Therefore, if Akash Anand wants to remain independent in the party, he is free to do so; that is, he has now been completely freed from the party," Mayawati posted on X.

Mayawati also described Siddharth's decision as a "correct step" taken late and said his retirement had been sought by the party in the larger interest of the Bahujan Samaj Party, its movement and Anand.

Siddharth, who was expelled from the BSP on August 2 over alleged repeated indiscipline and anti-party activities, announced his retirement on Thursday.

Mayawati also urged BSP workers to "remain focused on the party's objective of returning to power in Uttar Pradesh".

She called on party workers to confront political opponents and work with full commitment towards establishing the BSP's "iron rule" in the state based on law and order and development, with the principle of "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay" (welfare and happiness of all) as the overarching goal.