At mega SP-BSP-RLD rally in Agra, nephew Akash Anand fills Mayawati's void

The SP-BSP-RLD grand alliance held a mega rally in Uttar Pradesh's Agra on Monday. While SP cheif Akhilesh Yadav and RLD leader Ajit Singh were in attendance, BSP chief Mayawati could not take part in the rally due to Election Commission's ban from campaigning. However, the void left by her absence was filled by her nephwe Akash Anand, who made his debut speech at the rally.

Anand, considered by many as the heir-apparent of Mayawati, sat on the chair reserved for Mayawati at the centre stage beside RLD cheif Ajit Singh. Earlier, there were reports that Mayawati may assign newphew Akash a senior post in the party, she came on the target of Opposition parties for promoting nepotism. However, Mayawati hit back and vowed to make him join the "BSP movement" and learn things.

"I am a disciple of Kanshi Ram ji, so to give a 'tit for tat' answer I will make Akash (her nephew) join BSP movement & make him learn. If some casteist & anti-Dalit section of media has a problem with that then let it be. Our party doesn't care," she had said.

Who is Akash Anand?

The 24-year-old is the nephew of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. He is the son of Mayawati's younger brother Anand, who was BSP's BSP's vice-president untill 2017. Anand resigned from the post afetr Mayawati said that no family member will be given any post in the party. However, Akash remained in the party but was not given any post as announced by Mayawati.

He, however, grabbed eyeballs by his presence at several high profile meetings and once such was when Mayawati recieved Samajwadi Party’s chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow during her birthday celebrations on January 15 when the modelities of their alliance were being discussed.