Akash Anand: 'BSP is my family, Mayawati my political mentor'
Synopsis
Weeks after being sacked from the BSP, Akash Anand has gone public with a loyalty pledge — calling BSP his 'family,' backing his own father-in-law's expulsion, and seeking a second chance under Mayawati. The message is as much a political apology as it is a denial of defection rumours.
Key Takeaways
Akash Anand posted a public message on X on 2 October 2026 denying reports of joining another political party.
He described the BSP as his 'family' and Mayawati as his 'political mentor and inspiration.' Anand endorsed Mayawati 's decision to expel his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth from the party.
He acknowledged his prolonged silence had fuelled rumours and offered an apology to Mayawati if it had caused hurt.
Mayawati had reportedly removed Anand from the BSP about a month ago, following Ashok Siddharth 's retirement from politics.
Weeks after his expulsion from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former national coordinator Akash Anand broke his silence on 2 October 2026, publishing a detailed message addressed to BSP supremo Mayawati in which he declared his unconditional loyalty to the party and denied any intention of joining a rival political outfit.
Anand Denies Defection Rumours
Addressing widespread speculation about his political future, Anand was categorical. 'I am not joining any other party, neither now nor in the future. The BSP is not merely a political party, but my family,' he stated in a post on X. He described the reports and rumours circulating about a possible switch as 'completely baseless.'
Mayawati Called His 'Political Mentor and Inspiration'
In the message, Anand paid an unusually personal tribute to Mayawati, calling her his 'political mentor and inspiration' and acknowledging that he had learnt everything about politics under her guidance. He said every political responsibility he had ever undertaken was carried out at her direction — a framing that reads less as a statement of record and more as a public act of deference to the BSP chief.
Anand Backs Expulsion of Ashok Siddharth
Notably, Anand also publicly endorsed Mayawati's decision to expel Ashok Siddharth — his own father-in-law and a former Rajya Sabha member — from the party, and Siddharth's subsequent retirement from politics. 'Mayawati's decision was entirely justified and I stand by it,' Anand said, adding that while personal relationships have their place, the interests of the party and the Bahujan movement must remain paramount. The acknowledgement is striking given the familial stakes involved.
On His Silence and an Apology
Anand also addressed the controversy surrounding his extended public silence following his removal, which he admitted had been 'interpreted in various ways, giving rise to rumours.' He offered a conditional apology, saying that if his silence had hurt Mayawati, he would apologise for it again. He went further, expressing a desire to return to active service under her leadership. 'Trust is built through actions, not words, and I will prove it through my conduct and hard work,' he said, vowing to adhere to the party's principles and guidelines.
Background: The Removal and What Led Here
Approximately a month ago, Mayawati had reportedly 'completely freed' Akash Anand from the BSP, a move that came shortly after his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics. The sequence of events triggered intense speculation about a split within the party's inner circle and about Anand's next move. His public statement on 2 October appears aimed at closing down that speculation and signalling a bid for reinstatement. Whether Mayawati will respond or restore his position remains to be seen.
Point of View
Not just a denial of defection. The most telling detail is his endorsement of his own father-in-law's expulsion — a signal that he is willing to subordinate family loyalty to party loyalty, precisely the test Mayawati appears to have set. The BSP has long run on a centralised, one-person authority model, and Anand's language of deference is consistent with that culture. The open question is whether a public pledge on X is enough to satisfy Mayawati, or whether she will demand a longer period of demonstrated loyalty before any reinstatement. The BSP's declining electoral footprint means it can ill afford a prolonged public rift at the top — which may give Anand more leverage than his submissive tone suggests.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Akash Anand removed from the BSP?
BSP supremo Mayawati reportedly 'completely freed' Akash Anand from the party approximately a month before his 2 October statement, shortly after his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics. The exact stated reason for the removal was not detailed in official communications.
What did Akash Anand say in his X post on 2 October?
Anand denied joining any other party, called the BSP his 'family' and Mayawati his 'political mentor and inspiration,' backed her decision to expel Ashok Siddharth, apologised for his silence if it hurt Mayawati, and expressed a desire to serve the party again under her leadership.
Who is Ashok Siddharth and how is he connected to Akash Anand?
Ashok Siddharth is a former Rajya Sabha member and a senior BSP leader who was expelled from the party by Mayawati. He is also the father-in-law of Akash Anand. His retirement from politics preceded Anand's own removal from the BSP by a short period.
Is Akash Anand likely to rejoin the BSP?
Anand has publicly expressed a desire to serve the BSP again under Mayawati's leadership and has pledged loyalty to the party's principles. However, no announcement of reinstatement has been made by Mayawati or the BSP as of 2 October 2026.
What is the significance of Akash Anand's statement for the BSP?
The statement matters because Anand was widely seen as Mayawati's political heir apparent before his removal. His public pledge of loyalty — and his endorsement of a family member's expulsion — signals that inner-party tensions may be easing, though the BSP's formal response will determine whether a reconciliation is actually underway.
