Leading Psephologist Yogendra Yadav, who has recently joined Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been sacked from the University Grants Commission (UGC) by the government even as he termed the decision as a “political vendetta”.

Yadav, was served a show-cause notice on September 4 by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, which cited conflict of interest with his new responsibility at the AAP. He was appointed as a Member of the UGC in 2011.

The HRD Ministry has clarified that they have take the decision in accordance of the UGC Rules. “The Central government, in pursuance of powers vested under Rule 6 of the UGC (Disqualification, Retirement and Conditions of Service of the Members) Rules 1992, hereby retires Yogendra Yadav from the post of member, UGC, with immediate effect”, the order said.