‘Mayawati herself wants BSP to be destroyed’: Udit Raj on succession row

New Delhi: A political row has erupted over BSP chief Mayawati’s latest decision concerning the political future of her family, with Congress leader Udit Raj sharply criticising her decision to choose her brother Anand Kumar’s daughter for the BSP’s political mission, alleging that the move reflected insecurity within the party.

“I think Mayawati ji herself wants the BSP to be destroyed. So, whether it is a big leader or anyone else, once a person makes a mistake, they learn from that mistake,” Raj said.

He further alleged that Mayawati had systematically removed senior leaders associated with BSP founder Kanshi Ram. “She expelled all of Kanshi Ram ji’s missionary associates one by one. So, she is very insecure, and I don’t know why she is doing this,” he said.

Raj also suggested that the decision could potentially be linked to political pressure, saying, “Secondly, it is very possible that this is happening under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party.”

Reacting to Mayawati’s statement, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand referred to the possibility of Akash Anand joining the SP and said the party would welcome anyone who believes in Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership and the party’s ideology.

“When Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav ji was asked about Akash Anand, he said that if he joins, he will be welcomed into the party. The Samajwadi Party believes that its doors are open to everyone who has faith in the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav ji and the ideology of the Samajwadi Party,” Chand said.

“As for who joins or leaves Chandrashekhar’s party and what he offers, the Samajwadi Party has no comment on that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said, “Now this is a matter between Chandrashekhar ji and Akash Anand ji. What the two people discuss or do not discuss, it would not be appropriate for us to make any statement on this decision, announcement or statement.”

The reactions came after Mayawati announced a significant change in her approach to the political succession within the BSP. In her latest post on X on Saturday, the BSP chief ruled out political positions for both her nephews, Akash Anand and Ishan Anand, and said their children would also be barred from holding positions in the party.

At the same time, she kept the door open for her niece Deepika Anand, currently a law student in her early 20s, to be given responsibilities in the BSP.

Mayawati said the decision was final and described it as her “final decision and pledge”.

“Today is my final decision and pledge that none of [Anand Kumar’s] sons will be given an opportunity to engage in politics by holding any position, big or small, within the BSP,” she said, referring to her youngest brother and party vice-chief Anand Kumar.

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