Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has reinstated Ashok Siddharth, former MP and father-in-law of her nephew Akash Anand, in the party within hours of him publicly apologising for his mistakes. The move also comes ahead of a proposed BSP rally in Lucknow next month.
Siddharth had been expelled from the BSP in February this year on charges of encouraging factionalism and indulging in anti-party activities.
In a long post on X in Hindi Saturday, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said Ashok Siddharth had publicly apologised for his “mistake” and assured the Bahujan Samaj and BSP leadership of his full loyalty. He also pledged to dedicate himself to carrying forward the movement of self-respect and dignity led by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, she added.
Announcing his reinstatement, Mayawati wrote: “The decision to expel him from the BSP is revoked with immediate effect. It is expected that, like all other party workers, he will contribute wholeheartedly to strengthen the party and the movement.”
Earlier on Saturday, Siddharth had posted on X that he “bows down at the feet of Behenji”, promising never to breach party discipline or misuse his family connections. “I will never repeat my mistake in future,” he wrote, appealing to the BSP chief to allow him back into the party.
Siddharth, a former Rajya Sabha MP, was once regarded among the BSP’s prominent leaders but was expelled by Mayawati in February. According to senior party functionaries, his reinstatement indicates that Mayawati has begun to place trust in Akash Anand. It was reportedly Akash’s wish that Siddharth be brought back into the party fold.
Just a week ago, Mayawati also appointed Akash as BSP’s chief national coordinator, a position regarded as the second most powerful in the party.
Speaking to ThePrint, a senior BSP functionary said: “In September, Behenji has called a meeting of all top leaders in Lucknow, where she is expected to assign new responsibilities to Ashok Siddharth and may also announce some major organisational changes. She has already given the message to the cadre that Akash is number two in the party and his power is going to increase further.”
In April, Mayawati had reinstated Akash Anand who had been expelled from the BSP in March after the action against Siddharth. Akash’s reinstatement also happened within hours of him apologising on social media.
ThePrint has learnt that the major organisational changes within the BSP are aimed at making Mayawati’s proposed rally in Lucknow a grand show. She is likely to address the rally on 9 October, the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram. If the rally takes place, it will be Mayawati’s first public gathering in the Uttar Pradesh capital since 2021.
According to sources, BSP workers have been instructed to wear the party’s symbolic blue gamchha (stole) for the rally. The move is seen as an attempt to energise the organisation ahead of the 2027 state polls, this time with the active involvement of nephew Akash Anand.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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