Mayawati draws family line, 'frees' nephew Akash from BSP

New Delhi: BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday announced that Akash Anand, her nephew, has been "completely freed" from the party. Mayawati's announcement came shortly after Akash's father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddarth made public his decision to retire from politics through a post on X.

Earlier, former UP CM Mayawati had linked Ashok's retirement from politics and social life to Anand's return to an active role in the party organisation. Subsequently, Ashok announced his retirement from politics and social life.

In her post on X on Thursday, she described Ashok's decision to retire from politics as a "correct step, though taken very late".


Mayawati said Akash's failure to repost her earlier X post showed that he had a greater attachment to family ties than to the BSP and its movement.

"Therefore, the people in the party feel that just as he was relieved of all the important responsibilities of the post of national coordinator on September 3, 2026, he should now also be completely freed from the party from today. Therefore, if Akash Anand wants to remain independent in the party, he is free to do so; that is, he has now been completely freed from the party," Mayawati posted on X.

In an emotional post on X, Siddarth said he was retiring from political and social life "right now", adding that if he ever had to give his life for Mayawati, it would be a matter of pride for him.

In her post on X, Mayawati mentioned that she had been "compelled to take tough decisions" involving Siddarth amid preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, particularly as the party aims to return to power in the state for a fifth time.

Ahead of the UP assembly polls, the BSP supremo's decision to "free" Anand from the party surprised many leaders in the BJP. "She takes all decisions alone. However, there was still a good opportunity for Akash to tour different parts of UP, address public rallies and emerge as the future face of the party," a source in the BSP said.