Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party national president Mayawati on Sunday said that recently expelled functionaries are spreading propaganda that she is unwell, and therefore, communicating even major decisions through social media.Mayawati said she was appearing before media persons to dispel doubts about her health and said that she was fine and actively engaged in party work.Mayawati cited a late-night call to her office by nephew Akash Anand as evidence that such claims were being circulated. “Around 10 pm on Saturday, Akash called at my Lucknow office and asked party in charge Alok Kumar, who was present there, whether I am unwell and how is my health. Alok Kumar told him that I was fine and occupied with organisational work,” she said.Mayawati said she was not sure whether Akash’s intention was right or wrong, but questioned why did he say that she should not be informed about the call. Mayawati claimed that Akash was not using his own sense of judgment and was acting on the advice of Ashok Siddharth, his father-in-law.Akash Anand, elder son of Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar, had been serving as the party’s national convener until Mayawati relieved him of all responsibilities on Thursday. She later removed him from the party, citing that he was “strongly attached” to Siddharth. Siddharth has since announced his retirement from politics, as Mayawati had demanded.Mayawati also reiterated that Akash Anand, his younger brother Ishan Anand, and future generations of the family would not hold posts in the party. She announced organisational changes linked to the party’s three-sector structure created at the all-India BSP meeting in Lucknow on Sept 3 to strengthen the organisation.Under the sector plan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand form the first sector, while the remaining states are grouped into sectors two and three. Mayawati directly supervises the first sector. Ishan Anand had earlier been appointed chief central sector in charge, with office-bearers reporting to him. On Sunday, Mayawati said the post had been abolished and that Anand Kumar, as national vice president, would now handle the role, with central sector in-charges reporting to him every one and a half months.
