LUCKNOW — Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati launched a sharp rebuke against her nephew and former political heir Akash Anand on Sunday, accusing him of circulating false rumors about her health in what appears to be a deepening familial and political rift.

Key facts

  • Mayawati accused Akash Anand of spreading rumors she was unwell
  • Anand called her personal secretary, Alok Kumar, to ask about her health
  • He was removed as BSP national coordinator on September 3, 2026
  • Mayawati urged party workers to focus on upcoming elections

A Tense Exchange

At a press conference in Lucknow, the four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister revealed that Anand had called her personal secretary, Alok Kumar, directly to ask whether she was ill. Her voice carried a mix of disappointment and defiance as she described the interaction.

“Those expelled from the party spread the rumor,” she stated. “A rumor about my being ill is spreading within the party. The office in-charge received a call from Akash Anand. He enquired about my health.”

According to Mayawati, Kumar reassured Anand that she was “doing fine and busy with party work.” Anand, she said, then hung up abruptly after requesting that “Behen ji not be informed of this conversation.”

Broken Trust

The allegations arrive just days after Akash Anand’s formal removal from the party on September 3—a decision that came shortly after his father-in-law, former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth, announced his retirement from politics.

Once seen as Mayawati’s chosen successor, Anand has been entrusted with significant responsibilities in the past but has also faced removal multiple times since 2024. Mayawati recently clarified that he could remain only as an ordinary worker, stripped of any leadership role.

She didn’t hold back in her criticism, suggesting Anand was still taking direction from his father-in-law rather than thinking independently.

Looking Ahead

Amid the internal turmoil, Mayawati turned her focus toward the future. She urged BSP workers to mobilize vigorously for the upcoming elections and return to the party’s foundational ideals.

“We have to form the government in Uttar Pradesh; workers should take the progressive ideas of Kanshi Ram Ji to the masses and communicate to them the achievements of the previous BSP governments,” she said.

The message was clear: despite personal tensions, the mission remains unchanged. But the very public airing of grievances hints at a party still grappling with loyalty, legacy, and leadership.