LUCKNOW: BSP chief Mayawati removed her brother Anand Kumar, the party’s national vice president, from the post of national coordinator on Wednesday after he expressed reluctance to handle the additional responsibility given to him after his son Akash Anand was sacked and then expelled for alleged dissent.
Mayawati picked Jat face Randhir Beniwal as co-national coordinator with Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam, making it a rare instance of someone from the community making it to the party’s top rung.
“Keeping in mind the interest of the party and the movement, BSP vice president Anand Kumar, who has been working selflessly for the party for a very long time, expressed willingness to hold only one post. His decision is welcomed,” the former UP CM posted on X.
“Ramji Gautam and Randhir Beniwal will directly handle the responsibilities of different states of the country under my guidance. The party hopes that these people will work with full honesty and integrity.”
Beniwal, who is from UP’s Saharanpur, was a key person for the party during the Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan elections.
Republican Party of India (A) chief Ramdas Athawle offered Akash a place in his party after his aunt expelled him for being allegedly “selfish and arrogant”.
“If he (Akash Anand) wants to take forward the mission of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, he should join RPI,” he said.