After three-years, CM Akhilesh Yadav sacks 8 cabinet ministers and stripped 9 others of their plump portfolios

LUCKNOW: In one of the boldest political moves in his three-years tenure as chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday sacked eight cabinet ministers and stripped nine others ministers of their plump portfolios. Most of those who bore the brunt of Yadav’s decision have been blamed for lack of performance or of corruption.

The sudden move is seen as Yadav’s attempt to send out a clear message to non performers both within the ministry and bureaucracy, improve the image of the government ahead of the 2017 assembly polls, as well as reinforce his own authority within the government. Among the ministers, who have been sacked are those loyal to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, his brother and powerful minister Shivpal Yadav, and Azam Khan.

One of the sacked Cabinet minister, Ambika Chowdhry, was among the senior most ministers in the government and had served in all previous ministries of Mulayam Singh. He along with other sacked ministers Narad Rai and Yogesh Pratap Singh have been blamed for neglecting their ministry and some financial irregularities. Yogesh Pratap Singh was a camp follower of Mulayam’s younger brother Shivpal Yadav. Small and Medium Scale Minister Bhagwat Saran Gangwar was close to senior minister Azam Khan.

Minister for Stamp and Registration Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh is prominent leader of the Agra region but was sacked for non-performance and was also suspected of moving close to BJP.

Nine other minister, who have been stripped of their plump ministries, include the infamous Food and Civil Supplies Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh “Raja Bhaiyya” and minister of Medical and health Ahmad Hassan.