Who is Akash Anand (Mayawati’s Nephew)? Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Education
Akash Anand (born in 1995, Age: 28 years old) is an Indian politician and businessman who is the nephew of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. He is also seen as the heir apparent of the BSP, which is one of the largest regional parties in India. He has been actively involved in the party affairs since 2016 and has campaigned for the BSP in various elections. He is married to Dr. Pragya Siddharth, who is the daughter of a former BSP MP and a close aide of Mayawati.
Family Background and Education
Akash was born in 1995 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He is the son of Anand Kumar, who is the younger brother of Mayawati. He has one brother and two sisters.
He completed his schooling at Pathways World School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He then went to the University of Plymouth, England, where he pursued his MBA degree. He returned to India in 2015 and joined his father’s business ventures.
Political Career
Anand made his first public appearance with Mayawati in 2016, when he accompanied her to Saharanpur for a party rally. He was also present at the press conference where Mayawati announced the alliance with Samajwadi Party (SP) for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was also included in the list of star campaigners for the BSP in the elections. He shared the stage with Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav in several rallies across Uttar Pradesh.
He also addressed a joint rally of the BSP-SP alliance in Agra in 2019, when Mayawati was banned from campaigning by the Election Commission of India for two days. He appealed to the voters to support the alliance and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the elections.
Akash is considered to be the successor of Mayawati, who has not married and has no children. He is said to be the one who handles the social media accounts of Mayawati and the BSP. He is also involved in the decision-making process of the party and has a say in the selection of candidates and the allocation of funds.
Akash Anand Wiki/Bio
| Name | Akash Anand |
| Date of Birth | 1995 |
| Age | 28 years (as of 2023) |
| Birthplace | Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Scheduled Caste |
| Education | MBA from the University of Plymouth, England |
| Occupation | Politician and Businessman |
| Political Party | Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) |
| Political Position | National Coordinator of BSP |
| Wife | Dr. Pragya Siddharth |
| Father | Anand Kumar (Former Politician and Businessman) |
| Mother | Vichitra Lata (Housewife) |
| Siblings | One brother and two sisters (Names not known) |
| Known for | Being the nephew and heir apparent of Mayawati |
| Social Media | Instagram: aakashanand_bsp Twitter: TeamAkashAnand_ |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Parents & Siblings
Anand’s father is Anand Kumar, who is the younger brother of Mayawati, the chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Anand Kumar is a former politician and a businessman, who owns several companies and properties. He was the vice president of BSP for non-political affairs until 2017 when he resigned from his post to avoid allegations of nepotism and dynastic politics. He is married to Vichitra Lata, who is a housewife.
Akash has three siblings: one brother and two sisters. Their names are not known to the public, as they prefer to stay away from the media and politics. They are also involved in their father’s business ventures and have a good relationship with their uncle, Mayawati.
Mayawati’s Succession Plan: A Nephew Inherits the BSP Legacy
Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one of India’s largest regional parties, has announced her successor and handed over the reins of the party to her nephew, Anand, in a meeting held on December 12, 2023. The move has raised eyebrows among political observers and critics, who accuse Mayawati of promoting dynastic politics and betraying the ideals of the Dalit movement that the BSP was founded on.
Who is Akash Anand?
Akash, 28, is the son of Mayawati’s younger brother, Anand Kumar, who has also been appointed as the national vice-president of the BSP. Akash, who holds an MBA degree from London, made his political debut in 2017 when he accompanied his aunt to Saharanpur after a clash between Dalits and Thakurs. Since then, he has been seen with Mayawati in various rallies and events and is believed to be the one who handles her Twitter account.
Akash is widely regarded as the political heir of Mayawati, who has been the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh four times and is considered one of the most influential Dalit leaders in the country. Mayawati, who is 67, has no children of her own and has groomed Akash to take over the BSP, which has a strong base among the Dalits and other backward castes in Uttar Pradesh and other states.
Why did Mayawati choose Akash?
Mayawati’s decision to choose Akash as her successor is seen as a strategic move to consolidate her hold on the BSP and to prepare for the upcoming state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, which are due in early 2024. Mayawati, who had severed ties with the Samajwadi Party (SP) after a disappointing performance in the 2023 Lok Sabha elections, is hoping to regain her lost ground and challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
By appointing Akash, Mayawati is also trying to woo the young and educated voters, who are looking for fresh and dynamic leadership. Akash, who is fluent in English and Hindi, is expected to bring a modern and progressive outlook to the BSP, which has often been criticized for being rigid and outdated. Akash is also seen as a bridge between Mayawati and the media, as he is more accessible and media-savvy than his aunt, who is known for her reclusive and secretive style of functioning.
What are the challenges for Akash?
Akash Anand, however, faces several challenges in his new role as the national coordinator of the BSP. The first and foremost challenge is to prove his mettle as a leader and a politician and to win the trust and respect of the party workers and supporters, who may not be comfortable with the idea of a family member taking over the party. Akash will also have to deal with the allegations of nepotism and corruption that have been leveled against him and his father, who has been accused of amassing huge wealth during Mayawati’s tenure as the chief minister.
Another challenge for Akash is to expand the BSP’s appeal beyond its core constituency of Dalits and backward castes and to forge alliances with other parties and social groups. Akash will also have to counter the BJP’s aggressive campaign to woo the Dalit voters, who have been lured by the party’s pro-poor and pro-development schemes and its projection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader from a humble background.
Wife & Kids
Akash got married to Dr. Pragya Siddharth on 26 March 2023. Dr. Pragya is the daughter of Dr. Ashok Siddharth, who is a former BSP MP and one of the most trusted leaders of Mayawati. He has been the party’s Rajya Sabha MP from 2016 to 2022. He was also made MLC in 2009.
The wedding ceremony was a low-key affair, attended by only close family members and friends. Mayawati blessed the couple and wished them a happy married life. She also thanked Dr. Ashok Siddharth for his contribution to the BSP and his loyalty to her.
Net Worth and Assets
Anand is the director of DJT Financial Services Private Limited and the managing director of DJT Corporation and Investments Private Limited. These are the companies that are owned by his father, Anand Kumar, who is also a businessman and a former politician. Anand Kumar was the vice president of the BSP for non-political affairs until 2017 when he resigned from his post to avoid allegations of nepotism and dynastic politics.
According to the affidavit filed by Anand Kumar in 2017, he had assets worth Rs. 1,316 crore, which included movable assets worth Rs. 511 crore and immovable assets worth Rs. 805 crore. He also declared liabilities worth Rs. 41 crore. He owned several properties in Noida, Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow. He also had shares in various companies, including Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Tata Motors.
Anand is likely to inherit a major share of his father’s wealth and assets. He also earns income from his business ventures and his political activities. His exact net worth is not known, but it is estimated to be in the range of hundreds of crores.
Trivia
- Akash Anand is often targeted by the media and the opposition parties for his expensive lifestyle and his designer clothes.
- He was trolled for wearing Gucci shoes worth Rs. 75,000 at the press conference where the BSP-SP alliance was announced.
- Mayawati defended him by saying that the media was unduly focusing on his shoes and ignoring the issues of the people.
- Anand is a fitness enthusiast and likes to work out regularly. He also follows a vegetarian diet and avoids alcohol and tobacco.
- Akash is fond of traveling and has visited many countries, including the UK, the USA, France, Switzerland, and Singapore.
- Anand is fluent in Hindi, English, and Punjabi. He also knows some basic words and phrases in Urdu and Marathi.
