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Mayawati has identified her nephew, Akash Anand, as her potential successor (‘Uttaradhikari’) to lead the party, a move that has sparked considerable interest in political circles.
So who is Akash Anand?
- 28-year-old Akash is Mayawati’s nephew and son of her brother Anand Kumar.
- In 2017, while introducing Akash to BSP senior leadership, Mayawati had introduced him as an MBA graduate from London.
- Akash Anand has been actively involved in steering the party’s affairs, notably taking charge of the party’s operations in Rajasthan for the past year.
- Akash Anand debuted into active politics as a star campaigner for the BSP in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.
- He was also elevated to the position of BSP’s National Coordinator in the same year. Since then, his influence within the party structure has been steadily mounting.
- Akash also steered BSP’s social media initiatives during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
- Holding the position of BSP’s national coordinator,
- In his social media bio, Akash identifies himself as a “young supporter of Baba Saheb’s vision”. He had actively participated in the 13-km “Swabhiman Sankalp Yatra” held in Alwar to mark the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.
- Akash Anand’s growing stature within the party ranks was showcased during the state-level review meeting in Lucknow in August 2023, convened by Mayawati to assess the party’s readiness for the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Akash also led the BSP’s 14-day ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay Sankalp Yatra’ held in August this year.
- Akash Anand had addressed his maiden political rally in 2019, advocating support for the Samajwadi Party-BSP-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance during a period when the Election Commission imposed a 48-hour campaign ban on Mayawati.