Lucknow: A big news related to Bahujan Samaj Party emerged from Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. Akash Anand’s father-in-law and expelled BSP leader Ashok Siddharth announced retirement from politics on social media X. Ashok Siddharth wrote: “I am retiring from political and social life. My life is indebted to my sister, renunciation is a very small thing.” He also said that he was proud to give his life for Mayawati.
Siddharth was expelled from BSP for second time on August 2
Siddharth, who was expelled from the BSP for the second time on August 2 over alleged anti-party activities, stated that he had decided to withdraw from politics hours after Mayawati said Siddharth could still give up his political ambitions and “rise above personal interests” to help Akash Anand’s political future.
It should be noted that Mayawati on Wednesday said her nephew Akash Anand could return to an active role in the party only if his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth gives up his political ambitions and retires.
Mayawati accuses Siddharth of giving greater importance to personal interests
In a satirical note, Mayawati accused Siddharth of repeatedly giving greater importance to his “personal and family interests and ambitions” than the BSP’s mission. Her statement came days after she removed Akash Anand from the post of BSP national coordinator at a national-level meeting of party office-bearers in Lucknow on September 3.
Taking to X on Wednesday, she said the BSP leadership was taking disciplinary action against those who sought to obstruct the party’s efforts, describing Siddharth as a “much-discussed example” of such action.
She stated that not just once, but several times, the party gave him an opportunity to mend his ways, however, he gave greater importance to his personal and family interests and ambitions than the BSP’s mission, the consequences of which had to be faced by him as well as his son-in-law Akash Anand.
Mayawati further added that Siddharth had “never properly cared” about Akash Anand or the BSP movement because of his personal interests, and she also stated that he should instead have set a greater example of sacrifice and dedication to the party and society.
Mayawati said Siddharth has an opportunity to put aside his political ambitions and retire completely from politics for the BSP and the movement, as well as his family and son-in-law Akash Anand”. Earlier, Mayawati had also said Anand still needed to attain more “political maturity” and that she would not entrust him with major organisational responsibilities for the time being.
Mayawati reacts to Ashok Siddharth’s retirement
Meanwhile, Mayawati reacted tot he development and said people say that if this decision had been taken much earlier, then BSP, Bahujan Samaj, and Bahujan Movement, as well as their son-in-law Shri Akash Anand, would not have had to continuously face adverse circumstances, “Anyway, people say that if this decision had been taken much earlier, then B.S.P., Bahujan Samaj, and Bahujan Movement, as well as their son-in-law Shri Akash Anand, would not have had to continuously face adverse circumstances, nor would I have had to take several tough decisions regarding them multiple times, especially amidst the intense preparations for forming the government for the fifth time in UP during the assembly general elections, keeping in view the broader interests of the party and the movement,” she said.
She added, “However, if Shri Ashok Siddharth had even a little concern for the bright future of his son-in-law Shri Akash Anand, as well as for the broader interests of the B.S.P. party and its Ambedkarite Bahujan Movement (which should naturally be present in him), then without delay, he would have announced his retirement from politics immediately yesterday. This would have ensured Shri Akash Anand’s active involvement in the party and the movement to a great extent. But the fact that this did not happen proves that the flaw and ambition in Shri Ashok Siddharth’s intentions have not diminished at all; rather, they remain fully intact even now.”
