Akash Anand writes open letter to Mayawati seeking return to BSP

Open Letter

Akash Anand has written an open letter to Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati seeking another opportunity to work with the party, weeks after his expulsion on 10 September. In his first public reaction, Anand dismissed talk of joining another party, stating that the BSP is his family and not just a political platform.

Reasons And Apology

Mayawati had previously expelled him after he failed to repost a message on X regarding his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth, who was ousted in August. In his letter, Anand supported Mayawati's decision to remove Siddharth, stating that party interests come before family ties. He explained that his silence was due to staying away from social media at the time, and apologized if his inaction hurt Mayawati.

Past Removals

This marks the third time since 2024 that Anand has faced removal or expulsion by Mayawati. Following his removal as national coordinator last month, his younger brother Ishan Anand was appointed to the post on 23 September. Mayawati previously cited the need for greater political maturity and noted that founder Kanshi Ram never favored giving family members government positions or election tickets.

Context

The Bahujan Samaj Party is a major political force in Uttar Pradesh, where family dynamics and internal leadership choices often shape party strategy ahead of state elections. Internal disputes and disciplinary actions are closely watched by political observers tracking the party's organizational stability.