Veteran Indian politician Mayawati has designated her 28-year-old nephew Akash Anand as her eventual successor to lead the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The announcement came during a key party meeting attended by national executives on Sunday, December 10.Anand is Mayawatis brothers son and currently serves as national coordinator for the BSP. He has taken on a prominent public role since 2019, including being the face of the partys general election campaign that year.10-12-2023-BSP Press Release-All-India party meeting pic.twitter.com/vn6ZH9C6rk— Mayawati (@Mayawati) December 10, 2023 Mayawatis dynastic politics His growing visibility comes despite Mayawatis reputation as a critic of dynastic politics in India. She appointed brother Anand Kumar as national BSP vice president in 2019 alongside elevating Akash.Over the decades, the Dalit leader has groomed no clear political heir apparent to take over the reins of the party centred on uplifting lower-caste groups. Todays statement appears to position Anand as next-in-line.The move follows the high-profile suspension of MP Danish Ali from the party on Wednesday. Ali was involved in an unsavoury verbal exchange in Parliament last week during proceedings.The BSP faces an existential crisis with a depleted legislative presence. Building up a new generation of leaders is seen as vital to rejuvenating its electoral fortunes in the coming years.
