Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has officially designated her nephew, Akash Anand, as her successor within the party. The decision was announced during a meeting organized by Mayawati to discuss the party’s preparations for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Akash Anand has been entrusted with the responsibility of strengthening the BSP in anticipation of the elections.
Akash Anand has been identified as the prospective successor to the BSP president and has been actively involved in overseeing party affairs, particularly in the context of the four recent Assembly elections. As the son of Mayawati’s younger brother, Anand Kumar, who holds a prominent position in the BSP hierarchy, Akash Anand’s role has been significant. Anand Kumar serves as the vice president of the party since 2019, and Akash Anand holds the position of national coordinator.
Udayveer Singh, a prominent BSP leader present at the meeting, conveyed Mayawati’s announcement regarding Akash Anand as her successor. Singh explained that Akash Anand would assess the BSP’s presence and election preparations in areas where the party needs strengthening. Mayawati will continue to lead the party in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while Anand will take charge in other states.
The official declaration was made during the party meeting held in Lucknow on Sunday, as indicated in the BSP chief’s post on social media. In her statement, Mayawati mentioned the date of the party meeting and referred to it as the “BSP Press Release-All-India Party Meeting” on X.
Akash Anand’s active involvement in the party is not new, as he was listed as one of the star campaigners for the BSP during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He played a crucial role in the party’s campaigning, particularly in Rajasthan, where he conducted a padayatra in Alwar in 2022. His contributions extended to the recent Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, although the BSP secured two seats in Rajasthan but did not win any in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
