Mayawati's flip-flops over Akash Anand leave BSP in confusion

Mayawati’s constantly changing positions have left the BSP unsettled, with a sense of disappointment and confusion prevailing within the party. Even party leaders are finding it difficult to understand her stand.

No one seems able to explain why Mayawati keeps reversing her own decisions.

Mayawati appears to have softened her stand towards Akash Anand, but his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth, continues to remain in her crosshairs.

According to sources, Mayawati believes that if Akash Anand becomes too powerful within the party, Ashok Siddharth could eventually take control of it. Other leaders close to Mayawati are said to have reinforced this apprehension in her mind.

A senior Samajwadi Party leader compared Mayawati’s confusion to the dispute between Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav before 2017.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the leader said that just as people close to Mulayam Singh Yadav had allegedly created doubts in his mind about Akhilesh Yadav at the time, Mayawati’s close coordinators have similarly created doubts about Akash Anand in her mind.

According to the leader, this idea has taken deep root in Mayawati’s mind -- that after her, Ashok Siddharth could use Akash Anand as a vehicle to take control of the BSP.

This apprehension, the leader said, has remained firmly lodged in Mayawati’s mind despite attempts by both Akash Anand and Ashok Siddharth to convince her otherwise.BSP CADRE LEFT CONFUSED

Mayawati’s repeated changes of decision have created confusion among the party cadre and coordinators. Sources say she could take yet another decision soon.

Akash Anand reportedly called to enquire about Mayawati’s health, which made her happy, but she has not yet forgiven him.

So, what exactly is happening within the BSP? Why does Mayawati keep changing her own decisions? If she is angry with Akash Anand, why was her other nephew, Ishan, expelled? Why did she say that she had kept her brother Anand Kumar around to help her because she is unmarried? Why is she trying to bring her niece Deepika forward?

All these questions have deepened the confusion over what is happening inside the BSP and what exactly Mayawati wants.WHY IS ASHOK SIDDHARTH GETTING IMPORTANCE?

Why does Mayawati repeatedly direct her anger at Ashok Siddharth? Has he really become so powerful that Mayawati feels threatened by him? Or is Mayawati failing to see the growing resentment within the party over the decisions she herself has been taking?

On Sunday, Mayawati held a press briefing in Lucknow. In the 10-minute briefing, she spent around four minutes praising the Modi government for the successful organisation of the BRICS summit, while using the remaining six minutes to try to clarify the turmoil within her party.

But the more Mayawati has tried to publicly clarify the situation inside the BSP, the more complicated the matter appears to have become within the party.

At times, Mayawati appears extremely angry with her elder nephew Akash Anand, while at other times she appears soft towards him.

On Sunday, Mayawati herself sought to clarify that she was not ill. There had been no discussion outside the party about Mayawati being unwell, but she herself raised the issue during her press briefing, saying rumours about her health were being spread and alleging that Ashok Siddharth was behind them.

Since there had been no such widespread discussion outside the BSP about Mayawati being ill, her decision to raise the issue herself at the press conference has now triggered questions over whether she is actually unwell.

Mayawati also said during the press briefing that Akash Anand had called someone at her residence to ask whether Mayawati was keeping well and whether she was ill. She said Akash had also asked the person not to tell Mayawati that he had made the enquiry.

Mayawati subsequently blamed Ashok Siddharth and Akash Anand for spreading the rumours about her health. Yet her softer corner for Akash was also visible when she said during the press briefing that his enquiry about her health could also be seen as a sign of his good intentions.FAMILY SUCCESSION AT THE HEART OF CONFUSION?

Mayawati spoke about ending dynastic politics within the party and invoked the words of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Manyavar Kanshi Ram. She said that if no one from her family was found capable of leading the party, a Dalit would take over the BSP.

However, it is being said that these remarks are primarily meant to reassure the party cadre, and that somewhere within her, Mayawati still considers Akash Anand to be her successor.

Whether she will bring Akash Anand back into the party leadership or not is difficult to say at this stage. But her attachment to Akash has clearly not disappeared. The party cadre knows this, as do its leaders.

Mayawati’s confusion and frequent changes in decisions ahead of the 2027 election, however, could prove damaging to the BSP and further undermine the party’s position.- EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Sep 14, 2026 16:39 IST