Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday removed her nephew Akash Anand from the post of chief national coordinator, saying he needs more time to gain political “maturity” before being entrusted with major responsibilities.
The decision was announced during a meeting of the BSP’s national committee at the party’s state office in Lucknow.
Mayawati said she had allowed Anand to continue working within the party but felt it was not appropriate to give him major organisational responsibilities at this stage.
“I have permitted Akash Anand to work within the party but believe he requires further maturity,” Mayawati said.
She also said the BSP needed to protect itself from strategies that could weaken the party during elections.
According to Mayawati, opponents could use tactics such as “conciliation, bribery, punishment, and division” to undermine the party, making it important to ensure that the BSP is not harmed electorally.
Akash Anand’s rise in the BSP
The move marks a setback for Anand, whom Mayawati had elevated to a prominent position in the party hierarchy in August 2025.
She had appointed him as the BSP’s national convenor, effectively positioning him as the second-in-command and signalling his emergence as a potential political successor.
Anand was given the responsibility of helping strengthen the BSP ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and rebuilding its appeal among younger voters.
His elevation had assumed significance as the BSP sought to regain political ground in Uttar Pradesh.
BSP faces challenge from Chandrashekhar Azad
The BSP has also faced competition for the support of younger voters from the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led by Chandrashekhar Azad.
The party has sought to expand its influence among sections of the younger electorate, creating an additional challenge for the BSP as it prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh polls.
Mayawati’s latest decision therefore comes at a crucial point for the BSP, which is attempting to strengthen its organisation and electoral position ahead of the state election.
For Anand, the removal from the key post represents a reversal of the prominent organisational role he had been given just over a year earlier. However, Mayawati made clear that he would continue to work within the party.
The BSP chief’s remarks suggest that Anand’s future role could depend on how she assesses his political experience and organisational maturity in the period leading up to the 2027 elections.
