New Delhi: The times have certainly changed. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which created a sensation in the early 80s with slogans like ‘Tilak tarazu aur talwar, inko maro joote chaar” today finds the language of its National Coordinator Akash Anand calling “BJP the party of terrorists” as immature and confrontational.
Yes, Akash should have used a better, more parliamentary word than “terrorist” to convey the message that “BJP was terrorising the opposition leaders and Dalits”. After all, aren’t Congress and other anti-BJP INDIA bloc parties making the same allegations – “BJP is threatening and blackmailing our leaders by the misuse of investigative agencies”? In politics, one should know how to say the most derogatory things in the most pleasant manners.
Akash has indeed made a slip, both politically as well as legally. As a result, a day after the Sitapur rally where he made those remarks on April 28, an FIR was lodged against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct and using objectionable language. Immediately afterwards, the BSP grounded him and all his scheduled rallies in UP were cancelled. Now ten days later, the “Bua Maa”, as Akash fondly calls his aunt Mayawati, has not only removed him as the party’s national coordinator but also her political heir. At least, till the 29-year-old Akash attains “maturity”.
There is considerable speculation surrounding the abrupt dismissal of Akash Anand from the twin roles. Especially, when Akash Anand had already addressed about 20 political rallies in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and was getting good responses from the Bahujan Samaj. His aggressive stance against the BJP was already creating buzz and he appeared all set to breathe life into the lifeless BSP. Remember, BSP won just one Assembly seat in the 2022 Assembly elections.
Young and vocal, he is also the perfect foil to Chandrashekhar Azad, being touted as the next (after Mayawati) ‘Leader of Bahujan Samaj’ and competitor to BSP.
Besides, you do not change your general mid-battle. By divesting Akash of his position, Mayawati has done exactly that.
According to a BSP insider, Mayawati had repeatedly asked Akash to tone down his language during rallies as it did not go well with the Bahujan movement. However, the young Akash often got carried away in his criticism of opponents. His comment about BJP in Sitapur irked Mayawati so much that she ordered him to cancel all his programmes the same day. But that was not enough. Mayawati wanted to give a clear message that nobody is above the party. And what better example to set than Akash – senior party leader, who is also a blood relative? By sacking Akash, she has not only done away with the dynast tag but also taught him a life lesson that the Bahujan movement will always remain above any individual’s whims and fancies.
Sometimes, a better pill can do wonders. Has Mayawati done Akash a favour by divesting him from the high pedestal? Does the BSP internal survey say something that we don’t know? Mayawati has a sense of ground realities and perhaps, BSP is heading towards another disaster. With Muslim’s first choice being INDIA (Congress and SP in UP) there is a high probability of this. BSP failed to open its account in the 2014 elections.
Amidst such a scenario, Akash Anand would not have looked like a good choice for the top post in future. His position in the party would have become questionable. Mayawati has saved him from the humiliation. And perhaps, he should wait for better political times.
There is also a thinking that Mayawati has taken this decision under pressure from the BJP. After all, the decision came barely 50 hours after the party changed its candidates in Jaunpur and Basti. The new candidates – Shyam Singh Yadav and Lav Kush Patel – look to hurt the prospects of INDIA candidates. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav even stated that “BSP is helping the BJP directly at some places and indirectly at others”. But the truth is that Akhilesh Yadav is also playing political games here to corral the Muslim votes. At best, the BJP can ask Mayawati to check Akash’s language, but it certainly cannot ask her to change her political heir. No party will interfere in the internal affairs of the other party and no party chief will oblige it. It has never been seen or heard in Indian politics.
The fact that Mayawati has changed her political heir is proof enough that it is her decision alone and nobody else’s.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone. The opinions and facts in this article do not represent the stand of News9.)
Akash falls from the sky, but has Mayawati arrested his fall from grace?
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08.05.2024
New Delhi: The times have certainly changed. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which created a sensation in the early 80s with slogans like ‘Tilak tarazu aur talwar, inko maro joote chaar” today finds the language of its National Coordinator Akash Anand calling “BJP the party of terrorists” as immature and confrontational.
Yes, Akash should have used a better, more parliamentary word than “terrorist” to convey the message that “BJP was terrorising the opposition leaders and Dalits”. After all, aren’t Congress and other anti-BJP INDIA bloc parties making the same allegations – “BJP is threatening and blackmailing our leaders by the misuse of investigative agencies”? In politics, one should know how to say the most derogatory things in the most pleasant manners.
Akash has indeed made a slip, both politically as well as legally. As a result, a day after the Sitapur rally where he made those remarks on April 28, an FIR was lodged against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct and using objectionable language. Immediately afterwards, the BSP grounded him and all his scheduled rallies in UP were cancelled. Now ten days........
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