Mayawati bars Akash, Deepika Anand from BSP; names Ishan for key role
Synopsis
Mayawati has purged two members of her brother's family from the BSP in one move — sidelining both Akash Anand and his sister Deepika — while handing a conditional lifeline to a third, Ishan Anand. The sweeping internal reset, backed by references to Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram, comes just days before a crucial BSP All-India meeting and raises urgent questions about the party's succession architecture.
Key Takeaways
BSP chief Mayawati announced on 20 September 2026 that nephew Akash Anand and his sister Deepika Anand will have no role in the party.
Younger nephew Ishan Anand will be given a 'respectable responsibility' in the BSP, subject to good conduct.
Mayawati alleged Akash had become 'entangled in the web' of his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth , calling his reinstatement a 'grave betrayal.' She cited BSP founder Kanshi Ram and a 23 February 1956 letter by Dr B.R.
Ambedkar as guiding examples for keeping family away from party benefits.
If Ishan also commits an anti-party act, Mayawati said a dedicated Dalit worker will be elevated instead — closing the door on the Anand family entirely.
A BSP All-India meeting is scheduled for 23 September to consolidate the reorganisation.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on 20 September 2026 declared that her nephew Akash Anand and his sister Deepika Anand would be kept completely away from any party responsibility, while her younger nephew Ishan Anand would be elevated to a 'respectable responsibility' within the organisation. The announcement, made through a detailed post on X, signals a sharp internal reset at the top of the BSP ahead of the party's All-India meeting on 23 September.
The Decision and Its Basis
Mayawati said she arrived at the decision after 'deeply reflecting on every aspect with great seriousness.' She grounded her rationale in two historical references: the example set by BSP founder Kanshi Ram, who kept close relatives away from political benefits and permitted them in the party only with 'selfless dedication', and a letter dated 23 February 1956 that she attributed to Dr B.R. Ambedkar, addressed to his son Yashwant B. Ambedkar, regarding the Buddhist Bhushan Printing Press. She cited Ambedkar's stated position that the press was 'public property, neither yours nor mine' and that no irregularity could be permitted in a public account.
Mayawati said those entering politics must 'rise above attachment to their brothers, sisters, close relatives, and so on, just like I did, and work with complete honesty and dedication.'
Why Akash Anand Was Sidelined
According to Mayawati, she had initially brought Akash Anand into politics at the insistence of family members. However, she alleged that his conduct and activities following his marriage led to his separation from the party. She claimed Akash had become 'completely entangled in the web' of his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth. Reinstating him, she said, would amount to 'a grave betrayal of the party' and an 'anti-party wrongful act.' His sister Deepika Anand has similarly been excluded from any party role.
Ishan Anand Gets a Conditional Opportunity
Mayawati said she had considered whether any other member of Anand Kumar's family — her younger brother — could be brought forward, and settled on his son Ishan Anand. She attached a clear condition: if Ishan commits a 'serious anti-party act', he too will be removed. In that eventuality, she said, no other member of Anand Kumar's family would be given any responsibility, and a dedicated Dalit worker already associated with the party would be elevated instead.
The Broader Message on Family and Party
Mayawati acknowledged that, as a woman, she had felt compelled to keep at least one sibling close — her younger brother Anand Kumar, who has served her for many years. She described the 'entire Bahujan Samaj' as her 'real family' and reiterated her mission as transforming it 'from the exploited to the ruling class.' She invoked Ambedkar's resolve as a model: 'For this, I can go to any extent even against my brothers and sisters — this is my resolve too.'
All-India BSP Meeting on 23 September
Separately, Mayawati announced that an important BSP All-India meeting would be held on 23 September. She said the gathering would help party workers 'once again devote themselves wholeheartedly to party work' — a signal that the internal restructuring is expected to be formalised imminently. The coming days will reveal how the rank and file, and particularly the Dalit voter base, respond to this generational reshuffle at the BSP's helm.
Point of View
But the structural contradiction is hard to miss: she is not removing family from BSP succession — she is rotating which family member holds that slot. The decision to elevate Ishan Anand, another nephew, undercuts the 'party above family' framing even as it is being proclaimed. More telling is the pre-emptive warning attached to Ishan's elevation — a sign that Mayawati herself is uncertain about this choice. With BSP's electoral footprint shrinking and the Dalit vote fragmenting across multiple parties, the credibility of this reshuffle depends less on its philosophical pedigree and more on whether the rank and file see it as genuine reform or managed nepotism.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Mayawati removed Akash Anand from the BSP?
Mayawati said Akash Anand's conduct and activities after his marriage led to his separation from the party, alleging he had become 'completely entangled in the web' of his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth. She described reinstating him as 'a grave betrayal of the party' and an 'anti-party wrongful act.'
Who is Ishan Anand and what role will he play in the BSP?
Ishan Anand is Mayawati's younger nephew, the son of her brother Anand Kumar. Mayawati has announced that he will be given a 'respectable responsibility' in the BSP organisation, though she has warned he will be removed if he commits any serious anti-party act.
What is the significance of the BSP All-India meeting on 23 September?
The All-India meeting, announced by Mayawati for 23 September 2026, is expected to formalise the party's internal reorganisation following the removal of Akash and Deepika Anand. Mayawati said it would help workers 'once again devote themselves wholeheartedly to party work.'
Why did Mayawati cite Dr Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram in her statement?
Mayawati used the examples of BSP founder Kanshi Ram — who kept close relatives away from political benefits — and a 23 February 1956 letter attributed to Dr B.R. Ambedkar to his son, stressing that public resources and organisations cannot be treated as family property. These references were used to justify her decision to sideline family members who she said prioritised personal interests over party mission.
What happens if Ishan Anand also falls short of Mayawati's expectations?
Mayawati has stated clearly that if Ishan Anand commits a serious anti-party act, he will be removed and no other member of Anand Kumar's family will be given any responsibility. In that scenario, she said a dedicated Dalit worker already associated with the BSP would be brought forward instead.
