LUCKNOW: Carrying out a major restructuring of the party organization ahead of upcoming AUP Assembly elections early next year, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati introduced significant changes redistributing responsibilities among national office bearers.
In a notable move, Ashok Siddharth, father-in-law of her nephew Akash Anand, has once again been assigned a key role wherein he would be taking care of party’s growth in four states including Delhi, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Kerala.
It may be recalled that Ashok Siddharth was expelled from the party in February, 2025 on grounds of encouraging groupism and being involved in anti-party activities. His expulsion from the party had shocked both the party cadre and the political rivals of the BSP as Siddharth was considered to be the closest aide of ‘Behenji’ after Satish Chandra Mishra. However, he was reinstated in September, 20205. Now he has been entrusted with crucial and significant role in four states.
Simultaneously, the party chief elevated prominent Muslim face, Naushad Ali, entrusting him with responsibility for four politically significant divisions in Uttar Pradesh including Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra and Meerut.
In her inimitable style of politics, the BSP chief reduced the prominence of Ramji Gautam, who was earlier considered the party’s number one national office bearer. That position has now effectively gone to Ashok Siddharth. Responsibilities for Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar have been withdrawn from Ramji Gautam. Gautam has rather been assigned charge of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Similarly, Rajaram, who previously oversaw only Maharashtra, has now been made in charge of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Former MP Girish Chandra has been given responsibility for Uttarakhand which will also have to assembly polls in 2027, while Sumrat Singh has been appointed in charge of Rajasthan.
Mayawati has also altered the responsibilities of 18 divisional in-charges in Uttar Pradesh to strengthen the organisation ahead of upcoming elections. The promotion of Naushad Ali is viewed as part of a broader strategy to consolidate minority support and reinvigorate the party structure, especially, after Naseemuddin Siddiqui, who once used to be Mayawati’s trusted hand but switched over to Congress levelling the allegations of corruption on her in 2018, recently joined Samajwadi Party.
In order to consolidate the Muslim votebank, Naishad Ali has been assigned four divisions regarded as politically crucial for the BSP.
The reallocation of roles is seen as an attempt to inject fresh momentum into the organisation and enhance its influence across regions. These changes are being interpreted as preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and other state contests.
Earlier this month, Mayawati had initiated a restructuring drive down to the booth and sector level. This included a decision to provide 50 per cent representation to youth and to abolish certain key posts, such as the system of having two district in-charges.
Political experts believe the reshuffle as part of a broader strategy to energise party workers, reward loyal cadres and strengthen “Mission 2027”. The BSP is seeking to consolidate its traditional support base among Dalits, backward classes and minority communities, while simultaneously expanding its outreach to other social groups.