Mayawati brings in nephew in party fold

LUCKNOW: Surprise was in store for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders when they were introduced to a youth clad in jeans and T- shirt during the party’s meeting held under the chairmanship of Mayawati.

The youth was Aakash, son of Mayawati’s younger brother Anand Kumar. An MBA, he will now be part of party affairs. Five days back, Mayawati had appointed Anand as national vice-president of the party.

She also reconstituted the organisation withdrew the charge of West UP from Naseemuddin Siddiqui, Muslim face of the party and considered second most powerful leader. Siddiqui has been appointed in-charge of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where assembly polls are due next year. He will continue as the national general secretary and member in the legislative council.

In the reconstituted party organization, instead of 9 zones there will now be two zones- East and West UP. Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth, who belongs to Jatav community, will head the West UP zone and will also monitor the working of the East zone. The divisional committee, district committees and bhai-chara commitees that were dissolved will be reconstituted soon.

A party leader said Mayawati told the party workers that her decision to join the anti- BJP front was not final. “The BSP has decided to contest the urban local bodies poll on its own strength. The decision over joining alliance will be taken before the Lok Sabha polls,” he said.