Lucknow, Feb 18 : In a significant organizational overhaul ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and other key state contests, Mayawati on Monday carried out a major restructuring within the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), redistributing responsibilities among senior leaders as part of the party’s “Mission 2027” strategy.
The reshuffle, which spans Uttar Pradesh and several other states, is being viewed as a calculated move to inject fresh momentum into the party and strengthen its organizational grip at both state and national levels.
Ashok Siddharth Returns to Centre Stage
In a notable development, former Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth — father-in-law of Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand — has been appointed chief central in-charge for four states: Delhi, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Kerala.
Siddharth, who was expelled from the party in February 2025 over alleged anti-party activities, was reinstated in September the same year. His latest appointment marks a significant comeback and effectively elevates him to a top national role within the party structure.
As part of the rejig, responsibilities for Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar were withdrawn from senior leader Ramji Gautam and redistributed among other office-bearers.
Focus on Minority Outreach
In Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati appointed Naushad Ali as chief in-charge of four politically crucial divisions — Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra and Meerut.
Party insiders view Ali’s elevation as part of a broader strategy to consolidate minority support, particularly the Muslim vote bank, ahead of the 2027 polls. The move assumes significance following the exit of former BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui, who joined the Samajwadi Party.
Redistribution Across States
Under the new arrangement:
Ramji Gautam has been assigned charge of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Rajaram will oversee Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Former MP Girish Chandra has been appointed in-charge of Uttarakhand, which is also slated to go to the polls in 2027.
Sumrat Singh has been given responsibility for Rajasthan.
In addition, responsibilities of 18 divisional in-charges in Uttar Pradesh have been altered to streamline operations and reinforce the party’s grassroots network.
Structural Changes Down to Booth Level
Earlier this month, Mayawati initiated a restructuring drive down to booth and sector levels. The party announced 50 per cent representation for youth in the organization and abolished certain posts, including the system of appointing two district in-charges.
Political observers see the reshuffle as an attempt to energize cadres, reward loyal workers and strengthen the BSP’s traditional support base among Dalits, backward classes and minorities, while simultaneously expanding its outreach to other social groups.
With the latest organizational overhaul, the BSP appears to be setting the stage for an aggressive campaign in the run-up to 2027, aiming to reclaim lost ground in Uttar Pradesh and broaden its footprint beyond the state.
