Mayawati Announces Candidate Selections for Upcoming Uttar Pradesh Elections

BSF Chief Mayawati Reveals Candidate Plans

On Friday, Mayawati, the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), announced that the party has finalized candidates for approximately 25 seats in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Having served as Chief Minister four times, Mayawati led the BSP to a majority government in 2007. However, the party's performance has seen a steady decline since 2012, culminating in a mere one seat in the 2022 elections.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly comprises 403 seats. In a post on her official 'X' account, Mayawati mentioned that several state-level meetings have been held at the party's headquarters in Lucknow to prepare for the elections, with more planned in the future. These meetings have provided necessary guidelines to state and divisional officials regarding candidate selection.

She stated in her post, 'Interviews have been conducted, and over two dozen candidates have been finalized so far. The final decision on candidates for all seats will be made by me.' Mayawati also addressed rumors regarding her nephew, Akash Anand, who has been linked to the candidate selection process, asserting that there is no truth to these claims.

Recent media reports suggested that Akash Anand was given the responsibility for selecting candidates. Mayawati clarified, 'I am the one who finalizes the names of candidates not only in Uttar Pradesh but across the country for both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.' She added that where candidates have been decided, senior party officials are conducting public meetings to announce them with her approval. Akash Anand will also announce candidates at some public gatherings.

She noted that for the past year, Akash Anand has been sent to various states for organizational review meetings and public gatherings. Mayawati mentioned that he was also given a chance to speak at a major rally held in Lucknow on October 9, 2025, commemorating Kanshiram's death anniversary. She emphasized that this is part of the party's regular process.

Mayawati clarified that this does not relate to enhancing or diminishing Akash Anand's stature or his role in candidate selection. Addressing party workers, she stated, 'Akash Anand is working under my guidance like other senior officials. Party members should be cautious of mischievous and casteist elements spreading falsehoods about him on social media.'