First Akash, then Ishan, now Deepika: A new twist in Mayawati's succession
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has officially barred her brother's sons from holding political positions within the party. She emphasized her opposition to nepotism while allowing her niece to assist her father with party tasks.
Why it matters
This decision significantly impacts the succession planning and internal power dynamics of a major Indian political party ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections.
NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday ruled out any political position for her brother Anand Kumar's sons, Akash Anand and Ishan Anand, calling it her “final decision”, while allowing for the possibility of her niece Kumari Deepika Anand assisting her father with party responsibilities.The announcement came days after Mayawati “freed” her nephew Akash Anand from the party, adding a fresh turn to the BSP's leadership and succession debate ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.In a lengthy post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said she remained focused on the interests of the “Bahujan Samaj family” and reiterated her opposition to political nepotism.“Like Kanshi Ram ji, I too have always kept my brothers, sisters, young family members, and close relations away from positions as MP, MLA, minister, or any other post offering political benefit, by confining them to party work,” she said.Mayawati said Anand Kumar had remained…
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