BSP president Mayawati
Akash Anand, Mayawati’s nephew and Ashok’s son-in-law, was the national convener of the party, till Mayawati, in an all-India meeting of the party on Sept 3, announced that she has “allowed” Akash to work as any other worker in the party. Lucknow: BSP national president Mayawati on Wednesday said that it will be better for Ashok Siddharth to retire from politics, if he wants his son-in-law, Akash Anand, to move ahead.
Mayawati’s post on X on Wednesday was also a clarification that the reason behind Akash’s demotion in the party was his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, just like he was the reason for his expulsion from the party on March 3 last year. Only then will Akash Anand be able to work freely in the party, and the party will sympathetically consider restoring his responsibilities so that he can play an active role.
This is the consensus in the party,” Mayawati said. Though she did not say that Akash was being removed from his national post in the party organization, she said that he should become “more mature”, and, till then it would not be appropriate to give any major responsibility to him. “The party gave Ashok Siddharth not one but several opportunities to mend ways, but he prioritised his personal and familial interests and ambitions over the BSP’s mission, the consequences of which he himself, along with his son-in-law Akash Anand, had to bear,” she said.
“Ashok Siddharth can still give up his political ambitions, rise above personal interests, and retire from politics. Mayawati had expelled Akash saying that he was under the influence of his father-in-law. He was, however, taken back to the party in April after he apologised to Mayawati. Later, he was promoted as the national convener of the party, but all that seemingly could not win the trust of Mayawati for her nephew.