LUCKNOW, Aug. 1 -- Two days after it was announced that Akash Anand would launch the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections from Hathras on August 10, BSP president Mayawati on Friday sought to dismiss speculation over the role of her nephew and party's national coordinator in selecting party candidates.

In a post on X, Mayawati said she had held several state-level meetings at the party office in Lucknow in preparation for the assembly elections and would continue to do so in the coming months.

She said necessary directions had been issued to party functionaries, particularly at the state and divisional levels, regarding the selection of candidates. Mayawati said she had personally interviewe...