In a significant development, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Sunday accepted the public apology tendered by her nephew Akash Anand, deciding to give him a fresh opportunity — albeit with a clear warning and strict conditions.
Mayawati, while extending the olive branch, firmly stated that Akash must learn to respect his seniors and must distance himself from the influence of his father-in-law, former BSP MP Ashok Siddharth, whose actions she described as “unforgivable.”
More than a month ago, Mayawati had expelled Akash from the party and stripped him of his position as BSP’s national coordinator, making it clear there was no room for any discussion about him being her political successor.
Akash, in his apology issued on Sunday, directly addressed the concerns raised by Mayawati, acknowledging that his association with his father-in-law had been a source of trouble and pledging to correct his course.
While Mayawati expressed willingness to forgive her nephew, she remained resolute regarding Siddharth. In her statement, she reiterated that Siddharth’s actions — which she said included anti-party activities and fostering factionalism — had severely damaged both the party and Akash’s political future. “Forgiveness is out of the question in his case,” she said.
Mayawati also used the opportunity to underline her leadership, stating, “I am healthy and fully committed, and as long as I remain so, I will continue to lead the party with complete dedication, just as Kanshi Ram Ji did. Therefore, there is no question of naming a successor.”
Meanwhile, Akash, in a series of posts on social media platform X, expressed regret for his past actions and affirmed his loyalty to Mayawati, calling her his only political mentor and role model.
“I take a vow today that in the interest of the Bahujan Samaj Party, I will ensure that my relationships — especially with my in-laws — will never interfere in my political responsibilities,” he wrote. Akash also apologized for the specific post that had triggered his expulsion from the party.
He went on to promise that he would refrain from seeking advice from any relatives or outside advisors on political matters and,I instead, follow only Mayawati’s guidance while treating his seniors in the party with the respect they deserve.
In her response, Mayawati noted that Akash had been reaching out to express remorse both privately and publicly, repeatedly asking for forgiveness and assuring that he would not repeat his mistakes.
Following his removal in March, Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam was appointed to replace Akash as the BSP’s national coordinator, a role he had held since 2022. Around the same time, Akash’s father, Anand Kumar, was tasked with overseeing the party’s affairs in Delhi and managing internal coordination.
Akash’s expulsion had followed a post on social media which Mayawati described as a reflection of “selfishness and arrogance” rather than true regret or political maturity — attributing his conduct to the influence of his father-in-law.
At the time, Mayawati had made it clear that she would not appoint any successor during her lifetime, a stance she reaffirmed again while accepting Akash’s apology.
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