Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked eight of his ministers on Thursday. Five of them were cabinet ministers while the other three were Ministers of State, the Press Trust of India reported. He also stripped nine ministers of crucial portfolios. The move is being seen as a major crackdown on non-performance, which could solidify his position at the top ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls.

A Samajwadi Party press release announced that Yadav had met state governor Ram Naik on Wednesday to discuss the expansion of his cabinet. Yadav on Wednesday hinted at changing his group of ministers after the Bihar elections. New ministers are likely to be inducted on October 31, when a major reshuffle will be executed, according to Times Now.