BSP axes Ashok Siddharth, Randhir Singh Beniwal over indiscipline
Lucknow, August 02: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati has expelled former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth and party coordinator Randhir Singh Beniwal from the party with immediate effect on charges of indiscipline and violation of party guidelines. Ashok Siddharth is BSP chief Mayawati’s brother-in-law and the father-in-law of senior party leader Akash Anand.
In a series of posts released on the social media platform ‘X’ on Sunday, Mayawati stated that Ashok Siddharth was initially expelled from the party for indiscipline and his inability to coordinate with the state leadership over ticket distribution during the Maharashtra Assembly elections. He was later re-inducted into the party on the condition that he would not repeat such mistakes in the future.
According to Mayawati, even after being reassigned to his duties, Ashok Siddharth failed to perform his duties as expected. She stated that complaints of indiscipline and disregard for party guidelines were consistently received against him from Karnataka, Odisha, and West Bengal. Despite repeated warnings, he failed to improve, leading to the decision to permanently expel him in the interest of the party and the movement. She clarified that he will not be readmitted to the party in the future.
In her post, the BSP chief stated that Saharanpur resident and party coordinator Randhir Singh Beniwal has also been expelled for indiscipline and violation of party directives. Beniwal held organizational responsibility for Punjab, as well as some areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. This action was taken after receiving repeated complaints against him.
Mayawati stated that as part of a national reshuffle within the organization, Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam has been reappointed in-charge of Punjab, along with other states. She stated that Gautam will serve in this role not only for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections but also until the next Lok Sabha elections.
The BSP chief also said that the party has taken a policy decision that senior officials and coordinators from Uttar Pradesh who are handling organizational responsibilities in other states will not be given any organizational responsibility in Uttar Pradesh.
Mayawati appealed to party workers to be vigilant against mischievous and conspiratorial elements who try to sabotage or divert the party’s campaign under one pretext or the other. She also urged the media to publish and broadcast only fact-based news regarding the BSP and avoid becoming a medium for the alleged propaganda of opposition parties.
