Akhilesh cracks the whip, sacks 70 ‘lal batti’ ministers for non-performance

LUCKNOW : Reasserting his authority, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, in a sudden move on Saturday evening, sacked 70 persons holding the minister of state (MoS) rank allegedly for non-performance and serving their own interests. At present, there were 82 such 'ministers' in the Samajwadi Party government and only 12 of them, all holding constitutional posts, have been spared. The action has come barely 15 days after SP general secretary Ram Gopal yadav had said at the party executive meet in lucknow that many of these 'ministers' were involved in 'nefarious' activities and recommended strong action against them. Besides, a PIL challenging these appointments in the high court was coming up for hearing next month. Although there was no official release about the sacking, the appointment department confirmed that 70 nominated ministers had been removed and 12 of them spared. There was confusion about the number as an earlier release said that 16 nominated ministers had been allowed to continue, but later the number was revised to 12. TOI