Akash Anand in demand: All parties line up to woo young Dalit leader after BSP exit
On September 11, Mayawati announced that Anand had been "completely freed" from the party after questioning his failure to repost her social media statement concerning his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth
Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, political parties are wooing BSP supremo Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand after her decision to “completely free” him.
The Samajwadi Party (SP), Azad Samaj Party and others are making overt and soft signals to induct the young Dalit leader into their parties.
While the BJP is yet to make any strong overtures, its NDA allies Nishad Party and Republican Party of India (RPI) have floated invitations to the 31-year-old leader, once seen as BSP's young star. The Congress, too, has also sent out feelers to Anand.
Also read: Mayawati ousts ‘double-minded’ nephew Akash Anand, says he is ‘completely freed’ from BSP
The Samajwadi Party has indicated it was not averse to inducting him, while the Azad Samaj Party has been quite open in its offer. Aam Aadmi Party and AIMIM have so far maintained silence.
What Akhilesh Yadav said
Anand, a London-educated MBA graduate and former BSP national coordinator, was projected as the party's young face and played a prominent role in its election campaigns and social media outreach. His exit has attracted attention from parties seeking to expand their support among younger Dalit voters ahead of the 2027 polls.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav recently hinted at the possibility of Anand joining his party. Asked at a press conference whether the SP would take him if he wanted to join, Yadav said, "If you bring him, we will take him." Yadav, however, said Anand's removal was an internal matter of the BSP and other parties should not comment on it.
SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand said the party would welcome anyone who supports SP president Akhilesh's leadership and believes in the party's ideology.
Also read: Mayawati quells ‘rumours’ about her health, questions Akash Anand’s role
Referring to an earlier response from Akhilesh on the possibility of Anand joining the SP, Chand said the party's doors remain open to those who have faith in its leadership and ideology.
Nishad’s public appeal
Azad Samaj Party chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad has also said Anand would be welcome in his party, which has sought to build a support base among Dalits around Ambedkarite politics.
Nishad Party chief and Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad also publicly offered Anand a place in his party.
"Young people who want to carry forward the vision and dreams of BR Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram are welcome in our party. I appeal to Akash Anand ji to join us to spread their ideology. Whatever position he wants in the ministry, he can take and work with his team," Nishad told reporters.
RPI chief’s offer
Union minister and RPI chief Ramdas Athawale also directly invited Anand to join his party.
"Akash Anand ji, you are a follower of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Mayawati ji has removed you from her party, but I want to make you an offer - if you wish, you can join the Republican Party of India. I want to take you," Athawale said at a public programme in Moradabad this week.
Congress MP’s praise for Anand
During interactions with reporters on the issue, Congress MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood said Anand was a "good, cultured, wise and intelligent young man".
"He understands how the system works and if he gets free hand, he'll do wonders to take the Ambedkarite movement forward. He respects elders, he even touched my feet during a meet at his wedding," Masood said, adding he can't speak yet on behalf of the Congress for any tie-up with Anand.
Congress leader Udit Raj, during a press interaction in Delhi, said Anand was welcome to join his party. "I think Mayawati ji herself wants the BSP to be destroyed," Raj told reporters after Anand was removed from the party.
Anand’s political career
Anand's political career has seen repeated elevations and setbacks. He first appeared alongside Mayawati at election rallies during the 2017 UP Assembly polls after completing his MBA from the University of Plymouth in London.
He was appointed BSP national coordinator in 2019 and named Mayawati's successor in December 2023. He was removed from all party posts in May 2024 following a controversial speech during the Lok Sabha campaign, but was later reinstated.
He was again removed from organisational responsibilities in March 2025 and reinducted a month later, before being reappointed national coordinator in April 2025.
The latest crisis followed the expulsion of his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth from the BSP on August 2. Mayawati subsequently removed Anand from the post of national coordinator and other key organisational responsibilities on September 3.
On September 11, Mayawati announced that Anand had been "completely freed" from the party after questioning his failure to repost her social media statement concerning Siddharth. She accused the two of being more concerned about personal and family interests than the BSP and the Bahujan movement.