 Pressure mounted in that year on Lynch, the incumbent Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, to step down.Reynolds became a member of the so-called "gang of five" politicians of a strongly rural background, with Jackie Fahey (Tipperary), Mark Killilea Jnr (Galway), Tom McEllistrim (Kerry) and Seán Doherty (Roscommon), which aligned itself to Charles Haughey and supported him in the subsequent leadership contest.Reynolds was rewarded for his staunch loyalty by joining the cabinet of newly elected Taoiseach Charles Haughey, as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.