LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday expelled former MP Ashok Siddharth from the party for the second time, over indiscipline and anti-party stance.
Ashok Siddharth is the father-in-law of Akash Anand, the nephew of Mayawati, whom she appointed the party’s national convenor last year, effectively making him the party’s second-in-command.
Senior party leader Randhir Singh Beniwal has also been shown the door with immediate effect.
Taking to X, the BSP supremo stated that the party has taken stern action against the duo for gross indiscipline and violating the party guidelines.
“It is well known that Ashok Siddharth had previously been expelled for indiscipline and violating guidelines, specifically regarding the distribution of party tickets and a failure to coordinate properly with BSP Maharashtra state president during state elections. He had been reinstated on the condition that he would not repeat such mistakes and would be assigned responsibility of expanding the party's support base only in other states, not in Uttar Pradesh.”
She also informed that Ashok Siddharth will not be taken back into the party “under any circumstances in the future”.
Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam has been re-appointed as the in-charge for Punjab, alongside other states and will continue to discharge responsibility through both the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections and the subsequent Lok Sabha general elections.
Mayawati also stated that it is the current policy decision of BSP leadership that any senior party office-bearer or coordinator hailing from UP, who is currently fulfilling responsibilities in states outside UP, will not be assigned any party role within the state.
She also made a special appeal to party members to remain vigilant against ‘mischievous and conspiratorial’ elements who attempt to derail or harm the campaign, driven by firm resolve to form BSP government in Uttar Pradesh.
Yesterday, she said in a stern message that all the candidates for upcoming elections will be finalised by her and not by her nephew Akash Anand, settling the speculations over power structure in the party and asserting that she remains the undisputed boss of party.
