BSP Siddharth retires linking to Anand's return

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has set a condition for the potential return of her nephew, Akash Anand, to party responsibilities: the complete retirement from politics of his father-in-law, Ashok Siddharth. Following this directive, Siddharth announced on Thursday, September 10, 2026, that he is retiring from political and social life. In a statement posted on X, Siddharth declared his immediate withdrawal, stating that Mayawati's command supersedes all other considerations. He affirmed his 35 years of dedication to the BSP's mission and swore by Gautam Buddha and Kanshi Ram that he had never acted against the party's interests. Siddharth also refuted Mayawati's allegations that he had tried to influence Akash Anand or sought to control the party, asserting that such claims were untrue and possibly fueled by jealousy from colleagues. Mayawati had previously removed Akash Anand from his role as national coordinator on September 3, citing a need for him to gain more political maturity.