Lucknow- Akash Anand, the national coordinator of BSP, announced on X (formerly twitter) that people can give a missed call to 9911278181 and connect with him directly. "To fight for our rights, to struggle for social change, to build an egalitarian society in the country, we need to be organized, and it will start with you. To join the mission, give a missed call at 9911278181 and connect with me directly." The number is toll-free and won't be charged to the caller.

Not BSP's Membership Number

However, party sources close to BSP clarified that this toll-free number is to draw support for the national coordinator and is not the party's number. The party's membership drive has been utilized as a means to collect funds for the party, as the membership now has a fee of Rs 200, increased from Rs 10 recently. The BJP, the country's largest and ruling party, has mobilized membership through a toll-free number.

The Move Likely to Connect the Youths to Akash

The number is likely to help the young heir of the national party draw support for the young leader as BSP gears up for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. BSP, established in 1984, has already added crores of members to the party. However, off late, support for the party has dwindled as it tasted consecutive defeats. Akash Anand was bequeathed with the responsibility of the party at the national level on December 10th by Party Supremo Mayawati."

The BSP, once seen as a national alternative to the BJP and Congress, has experienced a significant decline in support. In December, Akash Anand, 28, was announced as Mayawati's apparent heir. As the son of Mayawati’s younger brother Anand Kumar, many in political circles of Uttar Pradesh earmarked him to succeed the former Chief Minister due to his increasing role in the party affairs since being appointed as the National Coordinator in 2019. An MBA graduate from the United Kingdom, Anand's initial task was to engage with the younger generation, particularly the Dalit youths, who have been drifting away from the party since 2014, when the BJP made substantial gains across castes and communities in the state.

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