BSP Chief Mayawati Names Nephew Akash Anand As Her Successor Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

Lucknow: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati has officially named her nephew, Akash Anand, as her successor during a party meeting in Lucknow. The meeting, focused on preparations for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, highlighted Akash’s role in strengthening the BSP. Akash Anand, the son of Mayawati’s younger brother, Anand Kumar, has been actively involved in party affairs, particularly in the recent Assembly elections.

As part of the leadership transition, Mayawati announced that Akash Anand would take charge of the BSP’s activities outside of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, Mayawati will continue to lead the party in these two states. This strategic decision aims to enhance the party’s presence and election preparedness where it currently faces challenges.

The announcement comes after Akash Anand’s significant contributions in recent elections, where he played a crucial role in key states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Despite the BSP winning two seats in Rajasthan, the party faced challenges in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana during the recent Assembly polls.

Akash Anand, aged 28, has been actively involved in party campaigns, including being listed as a star campaigner during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. His visibility within the party increased after leading a 13-km “Swabhiman Sankalp Yatra” in Alwar, Rajasthan, in 2022, coinciding with Dr. BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. His active participation in the BSP’s campaigning in Rajasthan in 2019 further solidified his role in garnering support for the Samajwadi Party-BSP-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just five months away, the BSP aims to leverage Akash Anand’s leadership to strengthen its position in various states, building on his experience and contributions to previous election campaigns. Mayawati’s strategic move signals a transition in party leadership while maintaining her influential role within Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The BSP’s preparations for the upcoming elections are now under the guidance of Akash Anand, who is entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party into a new era.