Mayawati names nephew Akash Anand as BSP successor

In a significant development, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has officially declared her nephew, Akash Anand, as her successor in the party, excluding responsibilities for Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Mayawati will continue to oversee affairs in these states while entrusting Akash Anand with key responsibilities.

The announcement was made during a party meeting in Lucknow on Sunday, with Mayawati emphasizing the need for a comprehensive analysis of the party's performance in the recently concluded assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Additionally, discussions were held on candidate selection for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Mayawati's decision to appoint Akash Anand as her successor comes as no surprise, given his prominent role in the party. Akash Anand, who held the position of national coordinator since 2019, has played a crucial role in energizing the party cadre and organizing party activities in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

Notably, Akash Anand's name featured prominently as the second in the list of BSP's star campaigners for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, signaling a strategic move by the party. Meanwhile, the BSP's decision to suspend its Lok Sabha member Danish Ali for alleged "anti-party" activities adds a layer of political dynamics to the unfolding events in Uttar Pradesh.