According to party insiders and supporters, a substantial section of the organisation had never favoured Anand’s expulsion, with several senior leaders reportedly advocating that he be given further opportunities.
His renewed prominence is also being viewed in the context of the rise of Chandrashekhar Azad, the leader of the Azad Samaj Party, who has been building a political following, particularly among young people.
Some BSP leaders are concerned that younger Bahujan voters could split their support among different political formations. Discussions about the party’s electoral preparations have reportedly included the need to address this challenge, with Anand’s return to an active organisational role emerging as part of the response.
Rallies across three states
According to the schedule announced by Mayawati, Anand will address public meetings in Bulandshahr on 28 October, Saharanpur on 2 November, Ayodhya on 20 November, Agra on 22 November and Kanpur on 29 November.
He will also attend a Constitution Day event in Punjab as the chief guest on 26 November and address a public meeting in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on 6 December to mark the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar.
The programme is expected to give Anand a more visible role in the party’s political mobilisation across multiple states.
Ashok Siddharth’s return ruled out
Mayawati also made it clear that Ashok Siddharth would not be readmitted to the party, dismissing speculation about his possible return. She held him responsible for recent developments that she described as unpleasant.
She further announced that her younger nephew, Ishaan Anand, had completed his legal studies in London and would assist with election-related and organisational work at the BSP’s central office in Delhi under her guidance.
The decision to give Akash Anand a renewed role reflects the BSP’s twin challenge of retaining its established Bahujan support base and rebuilding its appeal among younger voters. His upcoming rallies will offer an indication of how the party intends to pursue that strategy ahead of future elections.
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