BSP Internal Conflict Escalates: Senior Leaders Quit, Akash Anand Removed

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) entered a phase of heightened internal discord on September 10 when Mayawati declared the expulsion of her nephew Akash Anand. The announcement, posted on the social networking site X, also noted that senior party figure Ashok Siddharth, Anand’s father‑in‑law, has taken full retirement from political life.

The decision surfaces as Uttar Pradesh parties finalize their electoral blueprints for the 2027 legislative assembly elections. Akash Anand’s relationship with the BSP has been marked by volatility – a previous ouster, a reinstatement, and now a renewed dismissal – amplifying speculation about power struggles within the party’s top echelons.

State cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad intervened, urging Anand to rejoin the fold, suggesting that the aspirations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram remain unfinished and require collective effort. Nishad emphasized the need to empower the historically marginalized community, which depends on staple grain production for its livelihood.

Rakesh Sachan, another cabinet minister, dismissed the saga as a “private matter” of the BSP, asserting that internal membership choices are exclusively the party’s prerogative. BJP leader Narendra Kashyap echoed this sentiment, cautioning against external commentary on BSP’s internal affairs.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) launched a vigorous attack on Mayawati’s leadership. Spokesperson Ashutosh Verma contended that the BSP has drifted away from its Bahujan foundation, pointing to the cyclical pattern of Akash Anand’s inclusion and expulsion as evidence of self‑serving motives. He argued that the party’s future hopes now rest solely with the SP and its chief, Akhilesh Yadav.

Verma also lamented the retirement of Ashok Siddharth, reminding observers that the BSP, inspired by Ambedkar’s ideals, once led Uttar Pradesh’s government four times, including a full‑majority term. He warned that Mayawati’s current approach appears more focused on personal political survival than on advancing the cause of Dalits and Bahujans.