The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam and Randhir Beniwal as its national coordinators. The decision comes after Anand Kumar, BSP national vice-president and Mayawati’s brother, expressed his desire to hold only one post at a time, stepping back from the additional responsibility of national coordinator.

Earlier, Mayawati had assigned Anand Kumar the role of national coordinator, a decision she announced on the social media platform X. However, Kumar later requested to focus on a single position, citing the interests of the party and its movement. His request was accepted by the BSP leadership.

“Keeping in mind the interests of the party and the movement, Anand Kumar, who has been selflessly serving the BSP for a long time, expressed his wish to work in only one post. His decision is welcome,” Mayawati wrote on X.

With Kumar stepping back from the role, Randhir Beniwal was appointed as the new national coordinator. Mayawati stated that Beniwal and Ramji Gautam would jointly serve as national coordinators, working directly under her guidance to oversee party responsibilities across various states.

“Now, Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam and Randhir Beniwal will jointly serve as BSP’s national coordinators, working directly under my guidance to handle responsibilities in various states,” Mayawati announced. She expressed confidence that the newly appointed leaders would carry out their duties with “full honesty and dedication.”

This development follows Mayawati’s recent decision to remove her nephew, Akash Anand, from all party posts. Last week, the BSP chief declared that there would be no successor to her in the party as long as she is alive, emphasizing her continued leadership and control over the party’s direction.

The reshuffle in the BSP’s leadership structure reflects Mayawati’s efforts to streamline the party’s functioning and ensure a cohesive approach to its political strategy. The appointment of Gautam and Beniwal as national coordinators signals a renewed focus on strengthening the party’s presence and addressing organizational challenges ahead of future elections.

As the BSP prepares to navigate the evolving political landscape, Mayawati’s decisions underscore her commitment to maintaining a disciplined and dedicated leadership team, while reaffirming her central role in the party’s future.

The 38-day annual pilgrimage to the revered Amarnath cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,880 meters in southern Kashmir, is set to begin on July 3, 2025. This announcement was made by an official spokesperson on March 5, 2025.

The decision was reached during the 48th meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), chaired by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan. The pilgrimage will start concurrently from two main routes: the Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the Baltal route in Ganderbal district, with the yatra concluding on August 9, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

At the meeting, board members discussed a variety of proposals aimed at enhancing the facilities and services provided to devotees. Anticipating an increase in pilgrim numbers this year, they considered measures to expand accommodation capabilities in Jammu, Srinagar, and other strategic locations. Plans included the establishment of yatri facilitation centers for electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) processes, the distribution of RFID cards, and on-the-spot registration options at several locations such as Nowgam and Katra railway stations.

The board also emphasized the importance of improving facilities at key points along the journey, specifically at Baltal, Pahalgam, Nunwan, and Pantha Chowk in Srinagar. The Lt Governor highlighted the necessity of ensuring adequate arrangements and essential amenities for pilgrims at various points along the route.

Furthermore, the meeting covered ongoing projects, the necessity of disseminating yatra-related information, and insurance provisions for pilgrims and service providers. Discussions also touched on the enhancement of online services by the shrine board, as well as the maintenance and widening of yatra tracks.

Issues concerning crowd management at the holy cave area, disaster preparedness, the availability of helicopter services, medical facilities, weather forecasting systems, and overall security were thoroughly reviewed. The Lt Governor expressed appreciation for the board members’ contributions and their guidance to ensure the smooth conduct of this significant pilgrimage.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s annual Vipassana retreat in Punjab has become the center of political criticism, with both the BJP and the Congress attacking him for traveling with an elaborate security convoy. Kejriwal, who arrived in Hoshiarpur on Monday, was accompanied by a massive security detail, including bulletproof vehicles, Punjab Police commandos, ambulances, fire engines, and jammers—drawing strong reactions from political opponents.

Criticism over ‘lavish VIP security’

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa ridiculed Kejriwal for traveling in what he described as a “royal procession” for a meditation retreat meant to promote simplicity and peace.

“Arvind Kejriwal, who once portrayed himself as a common man in a WagonR, now moves around in a lavish convoy of bulletproof Land Cruisers, over 100 Punjab Police commandos, jammers, and ambulances. This is nothing short of a VIP Maharaja’s lifestyle, all for Vipassana,” Sirsa posted on X.

He also raised questions over Punjab taxpayers funding such an elaborate security arrangement, pointing out that even Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was absent from the convoy.

Congress calls out Kejriwal’s ‘delusion of grandeur’

The Congress also took a swipe at Kejriwal, accusing him of being addicted to power despite AAP’s recent electoral defeat in Delhi.

Senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit alleged that Kejriwal is still living in an illusion of authority.

“Kejriwal loves power so much that he indulges in luxury. He still thinks he is some kind of king or emperor. Even after losing in Delhi, he remains in a state of delusion,” Dikshit said.

Kejriwal’s Vipassana retreat amid political turmoil

The timing of Kejriwal’s 10-day Vipassana session is notable, coming weeks after AAP suffered a major setback in the Delhi Assembly elections. The party, which once prided itself on its ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) image, is now facing backlash over perceived contradictions in its leadership’s lifestyle choices.

While Kejriwal has often advocated for simplicity in governance, the images of his heavily fortified travel arrangements have provided fresh ammunition to his critics, who accuse him of embracing the very VIP culture he once opposed.

With both BJP and Congress sharpening their attacks, Kejriwal’s meditation retreat has turned into a political battleground, raising fresh debates over leadership, public perception, and the use of state resources.