Anand Kumar's wealth grew exponentially when Mayawati was UP's Chief Minister between 2007 and 2014.
BSP leader Mayawati, who has always sneered at dynastic politics and declared that no member of her family would ever take a party post, has elevated her younger brother Anand Kumar to the number two spot in her party. She justifies her 180-degree turn on nepotism by emphasizing that he will never contest elections or hold a public office.
"I gave my brother an important responsibility on the understanding that he would not become an MP, MLA, minister or chief minister. On the same condition, I have made him the party's national vice president," Mayawati said at a meeting of her party workers.
As an aside, the 61-year-old also shared that she had a medical condition that forced her to read from written texts. "In 1996, one of the two glands in my throat was removed by doctors in an operation and so I cannot stress my throat too much," she explained.
Mayawati's successor has always been a subject of speculation but her family came into focus when her brother started attending the BSP or Bahujan Samaj Party's leadership meetings and almost functioned as a parallel power centre. Reports have said Anand Kumar's wealth grew exponentially when his sister was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh between 2007 and 2014.
Sources say by giving her brother a post, she may have tried to cushion him from investigations into his enormous wealth. Earlier this month, there were multiple searches at nearly a dozen premises of businesses and firms linked to him.
Investigators recently alleged that Rs. 1.43 crore was deposited in the account of Mr Kumar.
Mayawati has always kept family away from politics and was known to be close only to her mentor Kanshi Ram, who founded the BSP. In the past, asked about her political heir, she usually responded that she would appoint one "when I grow old and am unable to walk."