Akhilesh Yadav explains rationale behind massive rejig in UP cabinet

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has sacked eight ministers, on Thursday said certain changes were made in his 43-month-old ministry in order to give opportunity to those who want to do "more good work for the people".

"Some people have done good work by remaining in the government. And, there are people who want to do more good work for the people of Uttar Pradesh," Yadav told reporters here while replying to a question on the reason behind the sacking of the ministers and stripping of nine others of portfolios.

Asked whether he sacked the eight ministers, including five of cabinet rank, in order to infuse young blood into the ministry with an eye on the 2017 assembly elections, Yadav said, "This decision cannot be taken now." Yadav, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after reaching here on a two-day visit to the state, denied that the meeting was the first step towards the proposed Third Front mooted by his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"No, no, we did not talk about that," he said. Later, he left for Puri for a darshan of Lord Jagannath.