"Prominent leaders, who have been expelled from the party, include former MLAs Malik Masood and Maya Prasad, Shivakant Ojha, Buniyaad Ansari and ex-MLC Heera Thakur," party sources said in Lucknow.

They said that former MLC Heera Thakur, who was nominated to the Legislative Council twice by the BSP, was shown the door on Wednesday. Interestingly, Thakur was believed to have shared a good rapport with party supremo Mayawati.

"During Lok Sabha elections the ex-MLC was given the responsibility of mobilising Nai (barber) community in favour of the party, which he failed to do," the sources said.

Former MLA Malik Masood was expelled for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. He was named the party candidate from Azamgarh seat in the Lok Sabha elections, but his candidature was withdrawn at the last moment and sitting MP Akbar Ahmad Dumpy was named the BSP nominee.

In a similar move, Buniyaad Ansari, who was initially named as party candidate from Sitapur, was replaced by Kaisar Jahan.

Sources said that Jahan, who won the election, lodged a complaint against Ansari.

Former MLA Maya Prasad and Shivkant Ojha, who contested the elections from Pratapgarh seat, were also expelled for indulging in anti-party activities.

Ojha had joined the BSP only a few months back after leaving his parent party BJP.

A senior member of the Mayawati cabinet, Swami Prasad Maurya, who was in charge of the cooperative department and was leader of the house in the Legislative Council, resigned from the cabinet.

"Few more heads may roll in next couple of days as the BSP supremo Mayawati yesterday directed to remove all leaders having a criminal background or a tainted image from the party within 10 days," party sources said.

The directive was issued during a meeting of the zonal coordinators. "During the meeting, fresh responsibilities were given to some ministers ahead of by-elections to around 11 seats of the state assembly," they said.