Overview
- Mayawati announced a final no‑nepotism policy on Saturday, September 12 that prevents her brother Anand Kumar’s sons, Akash and Ishan Anand, and their future children from holding any position in the Bahujan Samaj Party.
- She left a conditional path for Anand Kumar’s daughter Deepika to assist if she proves honest, loyal and capable, and said that if Deepika is unwilling the work may be assigned, with party consent, to another committed Dalit worker.
- The statement follows recent reshuffles in which Akash was stripped of key responsibilities and described as 'freed' from party duties, a move Mayawati framed as enforcing Kanshi Ram’s long‑held opposition to dynastic politics.
- Mayawati coupled the ban with a push to boost young participation, directing the BSP to aim for about 50% Gen‑Z involvement and to prioritise young, hardworking candidates for the 2027 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
- Rival parties and commentators responded quickly, with the Samajwadi Party saying it would welcome supporters of its leadership and critics suggesting outside pressure, while Mayawati rejected reports of readmitting expelled members and called some media narratives 'fake' or conspiratorial.