Carrying out a major rejig of her party in preparation for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday relieved her brother Anand Kumar of all party posts in a bid to tackle charges of nepotism levelled against her.
In April 2017, Ms. Mayawati appointed Mr. Anand Kumar party vice-president on condition that he would dedicate himself to the organisation and never contest polls or hold office of power.
Citing BSP founder Kanshi Ram’s commitment to remaining a bachelor all his life and keeping his family away from political posts in the BSP for the sake of the movement, Ms. Mayawati said her brother had offered to serve the party without any post.
According to the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, after she appointed her brother vice-president last year, she had not only faced allegations of nepotism but also had regularly to deal with “opportunistic and selfish” leaders who demanded posts for their relatives.
Addressing a national executive meeting of the BSP, Ms. Mayawati said the decision to relieve her brother was taken “so that no Opposition party in the country or media can level allegations of promoting dynasty in the party like the Congress and other parties”.
National coordinators
In another important decision, Ms. Mayawati appointed two “national coordinators” who would review party organisation work on her directions throughout the country. The two newly appointed national coordinators are Veer Singh, Rajya Sabha member and party general secretary, and Jai Prakash, who is party vice-president.
Ms. Mayawati also appointed a new Uttar Pradesh State president, replacing Ram Achal Rajbhar with R.S Kushwaha, a former MLA and MLC. Mr. Rajbhar has been promoted to the post of national general secretary, the BSP said in a statement.
Ms. Mayawati also said she had amended the party constitution to prevent nepotism in future.
