Akash Anand driving BSP’s digital push, Mayawati set for makeover: social media outreach to livestreaming

While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati made it clear on Monday, while addressing a press conference on her 68th birthday, that she will continue to lead the party, her nephew Akash Anand has been increasingly making his mark in the party, mainly by ensuring that it becomes more tech-savvy.

The 33-year-old BSP national coordinator, Akash was named by Mayawati asher “uttaradhikari” (successor) at a party meeting last month. The BSP’s footprint on social media has expanded in the last few months, with Akash steering the process of this change.

The BSP has been late in adapting to new technology as tools for its public outreach and politics. In sharp contrast, other major Uttar Pradesh players – including the ruling BJP, the principal Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Congress – have been active on social media for years, engaging with youth and other sections through various digital platforms ranging from WhatsApp and Facebook to X and Instagram.

The BSP has always maintained its image of being different from other parties in outreach and campaigning methods, with Mayawati largely remaining aloof from social media. But that seems to be changing now with Akash stepping up his engagement in the party affairs. In fact, Akash was credited with getting Mayawati to join Twitter some years ago. He was also involved in the BSP’s campaigning in recent Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. The party won two seats in Rajasthan while it drew a blank in the other three states.

On January 11, Akash released a video on social media while launching the party membership drive through a missed call. “To fight for our rights, to struggle for social change, to build an egalitarian society in