BSP supremo Mayawati offered "one more chance" to nephew Akash Anand to work for the party on Sunday, hours after the expelled leader issued a public apology to her.
Mayawati also said that till she is healthy and will not announce any successor.
Earlier, in a post on X, Anand said he considered her as his "one and only political guru and role model." He said he would not to let his personal relationships, especially in-laws, interfere with his commitment to the party.
Akash also apologised for a recent post on X that reportedly led to his expulsion from the Bahujan Samaj Party.
"I seek forgiveness for a tweet I posted a few days ago, which led to my removal from the party by Behan ji. I assure that I will not take any political decision based on advice from relatives or external advisors," he said, and sought forgiveness.
Within hours, Mayawati in a post on X announced she had chosen to give the repentant nephew another chance into the party.
"In view of Akash Anand's four posts on X today, publicly admitting his mistakes and giving full respect to the seniors, and not giving in to his father-in-law's words and devoting his life to the BSP, it has been decided to give him one more chance.
"By the way, I am healthy now and as long as I am healthy, like the Shri Kanshiram ji, I will continue to work for the party and the movement with full dedication and devotion. In such a situation, there is no question of announcing a successor. I am firm on my decision and will remain so," she said.
In a heartfelt appeal, expelled Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Akash Anand has requested his aunt and party supremo, Mayawati, to forgive his past mistakes and allow him to return to the party fold.
Taking to social media platform X, Akash posted a series of messages in which he acknowledged his missteps and expressed his desire to work once again under Mayawati’s guidance.
Akash Anand, who is the son of Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar, had been groomed for a key leadership role within the BSP.
In June 2019, he was appointed as the party’s national coordinator, and later, in December 2023, Mayawati had even declared him as her political heir. However, his trajectory within the party took a downturn after allegations of mismanagement and internal discord.
In his latest messages, Akash reiterated his deep respect for Mayawati, referring to her as his sole political mentor. He promised not to allow any family member, particularly his in-laws, to interfere in party affairs.
He also stated that he would no longer take advice from anyone else and would strictly follow the directions given by Mayawati.
“I appeal to her to forgive all my mistakes and give me a chance to work in the party again, for which I will always be grateful. Also, I will not make any such mistake in the future which will hurt the self-respect and self-esteem of the party,” Akash wrote in his post.
Akash’s rise within the BSP had caused internal tensions. After being entrusted with leading the party’s campaign in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi, he and his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, began playing a prominent role in key decisions, including candidate selection, campaign financing, and strategy planning. This reportedly led to the sidelining of senior party leaders considered close to Mayawati, such as Ramji Gautam.
Following the party’s disappointing performance in the Delhi Assembly elections, Mayawati loyalists reportedly raised concerns about Akash and Ashok Siddharth’s handling of the campaign and alleged financial irregularities.
In response, Mayawati expelled Ashok Siddharth during a review meeting held in Lucknow in February. A month later, Akash Anand was also expelled from the party on charges of engaging in anti-party activities.
Despite the fallout, Akash’s latest public appeal suggests he is keen to mend relations and continue his political career within the BSP. He pledged to learn from the party’s senior leaders and avoid any future actions that might damage the party’s reputation.
Mayawati, meanwhile, has turned her attention to her younger nephew, Ishan Anand, who is also Anand Kumar’s son. During her birthday celebrations on 15 January, she opened the doors of the party to Ishan, signalling a possible shift in succession plans.
While Akash’s appeal reflects a sense of remorse and a willingness to take corrective steps, it remains to be seen whether Mayawati will accept his apology and offer him another opportunity within the party. For now, the BSP leadership has made no public response to his request.
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