The day Qaumi Ekta Dal announced its merger with the Samajwadi Party, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked Secondary Education minister Balram Singh Yadav, who played an instrumental role in this merger, thus giving an indication of a possible cabinet reshuffle soon.
The CM forwarded this request to Governor Ram Naik when he met him on Tuesday afternoon. By evening, Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan issued an order divesting Balram Singh Yadav of all ministerial responsibility.
Balram Singh Yadav was elected as member of UP legislative Council recently because his term is to end on July 6.
A source told ‘The Pioneer’ that Akhilesh Yadav was not happy with the merger as the QED has two MlAs one of them being Mokhtar Ansari – a noted don of eastern UP presently doing time in Agra jail.
“The CM was ostensibly not happy with Balram Singh Yadav who played a crucial role in brining QED and SP together and was hence shown the door,” the source said. However, another section believes that the CM wanted to carry out a reshuffle and wanted to bring Balram Singh Yadav’s son Sangram Singh Yadav in the government. “So the father was removed from the ministry so that he can pave the way for his son,” party sources said.
Dr Sangram Singh Yadav is a legislator from Atrauli in Azamgarh - the Parliamentary constituency of SP national chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
“The sacking of Balram Singh Yadav could be the first step towards a cabinet reshuffle. There is possibility that four ruling party legislators can become ministers. The reshuffle in ministry can take place in couple of days,” the source said.
It is believed that the new cabinet will have many young faces, who are close to Chief Minister.