New Delhi: Like several other regional parties, BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday appointed her brother and nephew to key positions in her Bahujan Samaj Party. Ms Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar has been named the party’s national vice-president, her nephew Akash Anand has been made the party’s national coordinator.

Amroha MP Danish Ali, who switched over to the BSP just before the Lok Sabha polls, has been made BSP’s  leader in the Lok Sabha. Nagina MP Girish Chandra has been appointed the chief whip.

BSP leader Ramji Gautam was also named as the party’s national coordinator. The appointments were finalised at a meeting in Lucknow attended by top party leaders.

Akash Anand’s elevation is being seen as a sign of his growing influence in party affairs. Akash, who is the son of Ms Mayawati’s younger brother Anand, made his political debut in May 2017 when he accompanied her to Saharanpur.

At the meeting where the appointments were finalised, the BSP chief opposed the BJP’s “one nation, one election” idea aimed at holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, saying it was the saffron party’s ploy to win all elections through the one-time “manipulation” of EVMs.

CBI may switch to regular cases to probe sugar scam

Trouble seems to be brewing for BSP supremo Mayawati as CBI is likely to convert its three preliminary enquires (PEs) into regular cases to probe the alleged  irregularities in the sale of 21 state-owned sugar mills during the tenure of the then state chief minister Mayawati.

Sources said, “Based on the evidence collected by the investigators, the CBI may convert its three PEs into regular cases. The CBI will soon seek clarifications from at least two former senior bureaucrats of the Uttar Pradesh government as part of its investigation.”

The sale of mills during Mayawati’s tenure in 2011-12 had allegedly led to a loss of `1,179 crore to the state exchequer, they added.

The agency had recently registered an FIR and six preliminary enquiries (PEs) to probe the alleged irregularities.

However, BSP supremo had denied the allegations and accused the centre of misusing the CBI during elections. “The case pertaining to the sale of 21 state-owned sugar mills during her tenure as UP chief minister is being given a political colour,” she said.

The BJP government under Yogi Adityanath had recommended a CBI probe in the matter on April 12 last year. The agency has so far not named any official of the UP government or any politician of the state as accused in its first FIR, sources said.

Seven private persons, who had allegedly submitted forged documents during the purchase of the UP State Sugar Corporation Ltd mills, had been booked by the agency, they added.

The state government had sought a CBI investigation into the sale of the 21 sugar mills, and forgery and cheating in the purchase of seven closed mills in Deoria, Bareilly, Laxmi Ganj, Hardoi, Ramkola, Chittauni and Barabanki.

It is alleged that the Mayawati-led government had sold the 21 mills, including 10 operational ones, below market price, which led to loss.