Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Mayawati Names Nephew Ishan Anand BSP National Coordinator
Mayawati leads the Bahujan Samaj Party, or BSP.
She chose her younger nephew, Ishan Anand, for an important party position.
Reports describe the position as national coordinator, while one report calls it national convener.
Ishan replaced his older brother, Akash Anand, who no longer has responsibilities in the party.
Ishan has studied law and said he would work honestly and diligently.
He said he would follow the ideas of B R Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, and Mayawati.
Mayawati said the BSP does not support dynastic politics.
She also said family members may work for the party if they do so without personal greed.
The decision came after Mayawati changed her position several times about whether her relatives would have party roles.
The Bahujan Samaj Party appointed Mayawati’s younger nephew, Ishan Anand, as national coordinator at a Lucknow meeting.
Ishan replaced his elder brother Akash Anand, who was removed from all party responsibilities earlier in September.
Ishan, who has completed legal studies and an LLM, pledged to perform his duties with honesty and dedication.
Mayawati said the BSP would remain opposed to dynastic politics, while allowing family members to work without greed.
The appointment followed several reversals over the political roles of Mayawati’s nephews and came months before Uttar Pradesh elections.
- Who
- Mayawati appointed her younger nephew, Ishan Anand, to a senior Bahujan Samaj Party position; he replaced his brother Akash Anand.
- What
- The BSP appointed Ishan as national coordinator; one report refers to the post as national convener.
- When
- The decision was announced on Wednesday, September 23, after changes made earlier in September.
- Where
- At the BSP headquarters in Lucknow.
- Why
- Mayawati said Ishan would receive a respectable party role after Akash was removed, while she maintained that the BSP opposed dynastic politics.
Family Role Is Consistent With BSP Principles
Appointment Raises Dynastic Politics Concerns
Mayawati’s justification
Family Role Is Consistent With BSP Principles
Mayawati said relatives and close family members may work in the BSP if they do so without greed, and she described Ishan’s role as consistent with the party’s principles.
Appointment Raises Dynastic Politics Concerns
Critics of the decision could view appointing Mayawati’s nephew to a senior post as inconsistent with her stated opposition to dynastic politics; one report described the move as a reversal of her earlier decision.
Timing and party strategy
Family Role Is Consistent With BSP Principles
Ishan pledged to help advance the party’s activities and follow the path shown by Mayawati, while the appointment provides the BSP with a younger family-linked figure.
Appointment Raises Dynastic Politics Concerns
A BSP leader quoted in one report said the party had lost a potential generational bridge after Akash’s removal and would need time to groom Ishan as it seeks to connect with younger voters.
- Party
- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
- New appointee
- Ishan Anand
- Position
- National coordinator; described as national convener in one report
- Replaced
- Akash Anand
- Announcement venue
- BSP headquarters, Lucknow
- Qualifications
- Legal studies and an LLM
- Party president
- Mayawati
- Political context
- The appointment came months before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections
