Mayawati rules out nephews' political future, opens door for niece Deepika in BSP

For years, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati’s succession story has played out around one branch of her family, her brother Anand Kumar’s sons. One nephew was repeatedly elevated and dropped, while the other had barely entered the political frame. Now, in what she calls her “final decision”, the BSP chief has shut the door on both, while opening it, cautiously, for their sister, Deepika Anand.In a long post on X in Hindi on Saturday, the 70-year-old BSP chief ruled out any political role for her nephews Akash Anand and Ishan Anand, but left room for Deepika to take on responsibilities in the party if the need arises.“

Today it is my final decision and pledge” that none of Anand Kumar’s sons would be allowed to hold any political position, big or small, in the BSP, Mayawati said. She also made clear that the ban would extend to their children in the future.The announcement came days after Mayawati removed Akash Anand, once projected as her political successor, from key party responsibilities. It also effectively closes the door on Ishan Anand, who had only recently been given a party designation.“

If Anand Kumar, while remaining with me, needs another member to assist him, then in the current political situation, he can seek the help of his only daughter, Kumari Deepika Anand, who is currently studying law,” Mayawati said in a post on X on Saturday.She said Deepika could be entrusted with responsibilities based on her “honesty, loyalty and efficiency”. Deepika, who is in her early 20s and studying law in London, has so far remained largely outside the public succession debate surrounding the BSP.Mayawati, however, left room for another possibility if Deepika is unwilling to take on the responsibility.

In that case, Anand Kumar could, with the party’s consent, hand over the work to “another missionary worker from within the party's Dalit community”. The announcement caps a turbulent fortnight for the BSP leadership, during which Mayawati has repeatedly altered the political roles of members of her brother’s family.At a national office-bearers’ meeting in Lucknow on September 10, Akash Anand, 31, was stripped of his responsibilities for the third time, with Mayawati saying he needed “more maturity”.

Ishan Anand, who had been given a party designation less than a week earlier, was also present at the meeting.The dispute widened further after Mayawati said Akash’s father-in-law, former BSP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth, would have to give up politics as a condition for Akash’s return to the party.Siddharth subsequently announced his retirement from politics, but Mayawati later said she remained dissatisfied with the developments.On Saturday, however, Mayawati framed the issue as part of a broader principle against dynastic politics rather than focusing specifically on the recent dispute.“

Like Kanshi Ram ji, I too have always kept my brothers, sisters, young family members, and close relations away from positions as MP, MLA, minister, or any other post offering political benefit,” she said.Explaining why Anand Kumar has nevertheless remained close to her and handled important party responsibilities, Mayawati said her unmarried status and security concerns had compelled her to keep her youngest brother with her.“

If I weren't a woman, I wouldn't have kept any of my brothers and sisters with me,” she said, adding that Anand Kumar had helped ensure her safety and had carried out important party responsibilities under her supervision.She said she would not allow the party to be affected by family interests now that Anand Kumar’s children had grown up.The BSP chief also sought to give her latest decision a generational dimension, announcing a greater emphasis on young faces ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.“

The process of ensuring participation of Gen Z in the party organisation up to about fifty percent has been going on for a long time,” Mayawati said. She added that young candidates from all sections of society would be prioritised in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.Mayawati also highlighted the BSP’s work on what she described as the basic needs of “Gen Z” and “Gen Alpha”, citing schools, colleges, universities, hostels, training centres and parks established during previous BSP governments.The BSP chief further said that even if the party forms a government in the future, political opportunities would not automatically extend to family members of those holding positions.Mayawati also warned BSP workers against what she described as “poisonous, conspiratorial, sponsored and paid propaganda” by anti-BSP parties and casteist media and social media.She dismissed reports that expelled BSP leaders could be brought back into the party as “fake news”, saying those removed for indiscipline or anti-party activities would not be readmitted.- EndsPublished By: Shipra ParasharPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 20:12 IST