Mayawati’s Succession Saga Takes A Gen-Z Turn As Both Nephews Exit, Niece Enters

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has ruled out political roles for both her nephews, Akash Anand and Ishan Anand, while opening the possibility of assigning responsibilities to their sister, Deepika Anand. In a post on X on Saturday, the 70-year-old leader described the decision as final and linked it to her stated opposition to dynastic politics within the party.

Mayawati said none of the sons of her younger brother Anand Kumar would be given an opportunity to enter politics by holding any position in the BSP. She said that if Anand Kumar needs assistance while continuing to work with her, he could seek the help of his daughter Deepika, who is currently studying law. Any responsibilities given to her, however, would depend on her honesty, loyalty and efficiency, as well as the consensus of the party.

The announcement marks another turn in the BSP’s recent succession debate. Akash Anand, 31, who had earlier been projected as Mayawati’s political successor, was stripped of his responsibilities at a national office-bearers’ meeting in Lucknow on September 3. Mayawati said he needed greater maturity, marking the third occasion on which his responsibilities were withdrawn. Ishan Anand, who is in his 20s and had received a party designation less than a week before the meeting, is also effectively excluded under the latest decision.

Also Read: Nepal’s Political Parties Take Different Positions On Gen-Z Uprising Days

The developments intensified on September 9, when Mayawati said Akash Anand’s return to a party role was conditional on his father-in-law, former BSP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth, giving up politics. Siddharth subsequently announced that he would leave active politics. Mayawati later questioned the timing of his decision and referred to activity on social media involving Siddharth and Akash. Her latest post did not revisit those developments directly, instead setting out what she described as a final position on the family’s political roles.

Mayawati also invoked the BSP founder Kanshi Ram’s opposition to nepotism while explaining her decision regarding her brother’s family. She said she had kept Anand Kumar alongside her partly for personal safety and to assist her in party affairs, but added that the situation had become difficult after his children grew older and married. She maintained that she would not allow anything to harm the BSP and said the party’s interests would remain the priority.

Alongside the decision on her nephews, Mayawati pitched a stronger role for younger generations in the BSP ahead of assembly elections due early next year in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab. She said the party had been working to ensure participation of Gen Z in its organisation at around 50 per cent and that the approach was also being applied to candidate selection. She cited the BSP’s past focus on educational institutions, hostels, training centres and parks while targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and rejected social media claims that expelled family members could soon be readmitted.

Also Read: Bihar Floods Worsen as Ganga Stays Above Danger Mark