'No successor till I am alive': Mayawati sacks nephew Akash Anand from key positions in BSP

Lucknow: BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday sacked her nephew Akash Anand, who she had earlier declared as her heir, as national coordinator and said that she would not make any one her successor till she was alive.

Akash Anand has been stripped of his post for the second time in a year. Last year also he was sacked as the BSP national coordinator only to be reinstated a few months later.

Mayawati has appointed Akash Anand’s father Anand Kumar and another leader Ramji Gautam as the party’s new national coordinators. Earlier Mayawati had expelled Akash Anand’s father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth from the party accusing him of indulging in ‘anti-party’ activities.

In a press release, issued after a meeting of senior BSP leaders here, the BSP supremo said that no one would be declared her successor till she was alive. She also said that the party leaders welcomed the decision.

‘’I have decided that no successor will be declared till I am alive....relations, family don’t matter before party interests.....for me the party comes first,’’ she said.

Mayawati said that Anand Kumar had decided that in future he would not get his children married in the families of politicians so that people like Ashok Siddharth could not ‘harm’ the party.

She made it clear that Akash Anand was sacked as she apprehended that his decisions were influenced by Ashok Siddharth. ‘’As is known, Akash Anand is married to Ashok Siddharth’s daughter, it is to be seen how much influence she has on him....as of now it (influence) does not seem to be positive,’’ she added.

The BSP supremo said that Ashok Siddharth was responsible for Akash Anand’s removal. ‘’He has spoiled the political career of Akash Anand,’’ she remarked.