Mayawati picks Ishan Anand for BSP role, sidelines Akash

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday named her younger nephew Ishan Anand for a party role, reversing an earlier decision to sideline both of her brother Anand Kumar's sons. Akash Anand and his sister Deepika will be kept away from all organisational responsibilities, she said, ruling out any change.

The decision comes weeks after Mayawati removed Akash Anand, who was the party's chief national coordinator, over what she called his conduct after marriage and his closeness to his father-in-law, former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth. She warned that if Ishan commits any serious anti-party act, he too will be expelled, and no other family member will be given a role. The Hindu reports that Mayawati also said she was compelled as a woman to keep one brother by her side, while Indiatvnews.com adds that she invoked BSP founder Kanshi Ram's example of keeping relatives away from political benefits.

Mayawati has convened a meeting of the party's all-India committee on September 23 to formalise the decision and discuss election preparations for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand. Newindianexpress.com notes that she described the matter as a dilemma she has now ended.