Ashok Siddharth Quits Politics After Mayawati Sets Condition for Akash Anand’s Return

Political Bureau | New Delhi Chronicle

September 10, 2026

NEW DELHI — In a dramatic twist to the ongoing power dynamics within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth on Thursday announced his complete retirement from political and social life. The decision comes less than 24 hours after BSP chief Mayawati publicly linked the political future of her nephew and former national coordinator, Akash Anand, to Siddharth’s total exit from public life.

Siddharth, whose daughter is married to Anand, released an emotional statement on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that BSP supremo Mayawati’s directives supersede everything else for him.

“Mayawati’s order is greater than anything else in the world for me,” Siddharth stated, adding that he would consider it a matter of pride to give his life for her. “If you feel today that my remaining in political and social life is harming the Bahujan mission created by our saints, gurus, and great personalities, then I am retiring from political and social life right now.”

Mayawati’s Ultimatum to Save Akash Anand’s Career

The political rift broke into the open on Wednesday when Mayawati explicitly tied Anand’s potential reinstatement to his father-in-law’s political retirement. She accused Siddharth of placing personal and familial ambitions above the party’s mission and alleged that he had adversely influenced Anand’s political judgment.

Mayawati had noted that the party would only consider sympathetically restoring Anand’s organizational duties if Siddharth completely withdrew from the political arena.

This public ultimatum followed the BSP’s high-level organizational meeting in Lucknow on September 3, where Anand was stripped of his role as national coordinator. At the time, Mayawati cited Anand’s need to gain greater “political maturity” before handling key responsibilities.

Allegations of Internal Party Rift Denied

Rejecting claims that he attempted to manipulate party affairs or control the BSP through his son-in-law, Siddharth maintained that he had not even met Anand in recent months.

“Some party colleagues accused me of wanting to take control of the BSP and trying to mislead Akash because of the respect Behenji [Mayawati] showed me,” Siddharth wrote, asserting that there was “not the slightest truth” to those allegations.

Swearing by Gautam Buddha and BSP founder Kanshi Ram, the veteran leader reiterated that he had never acted against the interests of the party during his 35-year association.

A Crucial Turning Point for BSP’s Leadership Succession

Ashok Siddharth was expelled from the BSP on August 2 on charges of alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline. However, his decision to bow out entirely removes a major obstacle in Mayawati’s internal restructuring.

With Siddharth’s departure from public life, the stage is now set for Mayawati to reconsider Akash Anand’s role, signaling a potential return for the young leader as the BSP prepares to recalibrate its political strategy in Uttar Pradesh