Cabinet ministers Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull have visited Prime Minister Tony Abbott and told him he should step aside, Sky News reported.

Turnbull will request a ballot to be held for the leadership of the Liberal Party, Sky said. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that Turnbull has resigned from Cabinet.

Abbott narrowly survived a leadership contest in February, triggered by concerns over his political judgment and a stalling economy. Seven months after he pleaded with lawmakers to give him six months to turn around the government’s performance, the ruling coalition’s poll ratings suggest it would lose power after one term in office to Labor in an election due to be held next year.

Polls show Turnbull, 60, a former investment banker and leader of the Liberal Party until he was ousted by Abbott in December 2009, is about three times more popular with voters.

“I am not going to get caught up in Canberra gossip,” Abbott told reporters on Monday when asked about speculation his leadership may be challenged. He said he wouldn’t call an early election, with the government to continue until at least mid-2016.