In an apparent bid to send a strong message to the party leaders that non-performance would not be tolerated, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday dismissed as many as 82 leaders who held posts equivalent to ministerial rank.

Akhilesh had, during the recent Samajwadi Party (SP) national convention, hinted that those who had not performed up to the expectation would be shown the door and they would be replaced with fresh faces.

According to the sources in the SP, the chief minister was sore with the senior leaders after the party lost in the bypolls even the regions to which the ministerial-rank leaders belonged to.

Only three such leaders — State Planning Commission Chairman N C Bajpai, Chairman of UP Hindi Academy Uday Kumar and head of the Hindi Bhasha Sansthan Neeraj — have been spared.

There were also allegations against many of the leaders that they were misusing their authority and were busy grabbing lucrative contracts and also threatened officials.

The SP regime had given minister-of-state status to many party leaders during the past two years. Around 100 leaders were provided with vehicles fitted with red beacon by Akhilesh during his two-year stint. 

Such leaders were asked to ensure SP’s victory from their respective regions. They had been appointed chairmen of boards and advisers in different departments.