Daijiworld Media Network- Lucknow
Lucknow, Mar 2: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday removed her nephew Akash Anand from all key party positions, emphasizing that the party's interests are above personal relations. She also declared that she would not name her political successor during her lifetime.
The decision was announced at a high-level meeting of BSP office-bearers from across the country. Mayawati, who had previously sacked Akash Anand last year before reinstating him as her political heir, once again removed him from all posts.
According to a BSP statement, Mayawati held Akash Anand’s father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, responsible for the decision. Siddharth, who was expelled from the party last month over charges of factionalism and anti-party activities, was accused of dividing the BSP into two factions across the country and attempting to weaken the party. She also alleged that Siddharth had ruined Akash Anand’s political career.
"The party and the movement are supreme, and relationships come later," she asserted.
In a series of leadership changes, Mayawati appointed her brother Anand Kumar and senior leader Ramji Gautam as national coordinators. She praised Anand Kumar for his dedication to the party, highlighting his role in managing legal, financial, and organizational affairs.
"He quit his government job and took care of (BSP founder) Kanshi Ram when he was unwell. His commitment to the party is unwavering," she said. She further noted that Kumar had chosen to marry his children into non-political families to prevent any damage to the party, similar to the issues caused by Siddharth.
The meeting focused on strengthening the BSP at all levels, broadening its outreach to all sections of society, and addressing organizational challenges.
Mayawati criticized the government for failing to tackle pressing issues such as inflation, poverty, unemployment, and backwardness. She termed the budgets of both the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments as "unrealistic" and disconnected from ground realities.
"India continues to be a country of the poor despite being called a rich nation," she remarked, reaffirming the BSP’s commitment to upholding the ideals of BR Ambedkar and working for the upliftment of marginalized communities.
The meeting also outlined preparations for the upcoming birth anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram on March 15. Party workers from various regions will pay tributes at memorial sites, including the Kanshi Ram Memorial in Lucknow and Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida.
Targeting the Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati pointed to its defeat in the Milkipur Assembly bypoll despite BSP not contesting the election. "Who will the SP blame for its loss now?" she questioned.
She accused the SP and BJP of being "two sides of the same coin" and asserted that only the BSP, with its Ambedkarite policies, could challenge the BJP and other caste-based parties.