Mayawati removes nephew as heir and party post until he is “mature”.

Akash Anand, a 29-year-old, was dropped from his responsibilities in the party after making a derogatory comment against the BJP which led to a police case being filed against him. His aunt, Mayawati, stated that he was being separated from his responsibilities “until he attains full maturity”. She emphasized the party’s commitment to the movement and the preparation of a new generation to continue the momentum of social change. In a series of posts on social media, Mayawati explained that although she had previously declared Akash Anand as the National Coordinator and successor, he was now being separated from these responsibilities in the larger interest of the party and the movement.

She announced that Anand Kumar, his father, would continue to fulfill his responsibilities in the party. Akash Anand’s comments about the BJP, referring to the government as “a bulldozer government and a government of traitors,” and making comparisons to the Taliban, had resulted in a case being filed against him for Model Code violation. Following this, all of Akash Anand’s rallies were put on hold. Mayawati had previously named Akash Anand as her political heir in December, and her announcement regarding his separation from his responsibilities came as the third phase of the election was ending.

The BSP, which represents a significant portion of the state’s Dalits, is running independently in the election, and Akash Anand had entered politics officially in the lead-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.