New Delhi:
In a major organisational change, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Sunday named party chief Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar its National Vice President while Akash Anand, the newphew of the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, has been appointed as the National Coordinator of the party. Apart from Anand, former party VP Ramji Gautam is also given the responsibility of the BSP National Coordinator.
Besides, BSP's Amroha MP and former Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) leader Danish Ali was chosen as its leader in the 17th Lok Sabha, that commenced on June 17, 2019. BSP Lok Sabha MP Girish Chandra will be the new chief whip of the party.
The decision was announced at a two-hour-long National Convention meeting at BSP headquarters in Lucknow. The crucial meeting was attended by all newly-elected MPs, MLAs and key post holders from all across the country. Apart from organisational changes, the party also discussed other important issues such as removal of EVMs and elections through the ballot papers all over India.
READ | Would've attended all-party meet if it was on EVMs, says BSP chief Mayawati
Danish Ali has been elected as the leader of BSP in Lok Sabha. Anand Kumar appointed as the Vice President of the party. Akash Anand and Ramji Gautam to be the National Coordinator of BSP. pic.twitter.com/s5FvENI98u
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2019
Earlier, Anand Kumar had also been made the vice president of the BSP but was removed following the allegations of dynasty politics againt party chief Mayawati. On the other hand, Akash, who made his made his first public appearance in 2017 in Saharanpur, is reportedly the front-runners to take over the party after Mayawati.
Danish Ali, who joined the Mayawati-led BSP days ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, had contested from Uttar Pradesh's Amroha parliamentary seat and emerged victorious against BJP sitting MP Kunwar Singh Tanwar.
There are reports that Danish came to the BSP fold with consent of JD-S patriarch and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and will be playing a crucial role in stitching the BSP-JDS alliance for the upcoming Assembly polls in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.
Bypolls on 12 assembly seats are due in Uttar Pradesh, with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) trying to revive its cadre along with attracting the youth.
