Kolkata: West Bengal’s junior sports minister Laxmi Ratan Shukla on Tuesday quit the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC ministry. His resignation was accepted immediately by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on the advice of the chief minister.
“In view of advice of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, I, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governor of West Bengal, do hereby order, in exercise of powers vested in me under Constitution, that Shri Laxmi
Ratan Shukla ceases to be a member of Council of Ministers with immediate effect,” a Raj Bhawan twitter account communicated to the media.
Senior sports minister Arup Biswas will hold the additional portfolio, the communique said.
A first time MLA from Howrah North, the former all rounder India cricketer, was the surprise pick by the TMC supremo Mamata Banrjee when Shukla quit the field and began his political career, becoming a minister overtaking many senior leaders in the “Ma Mati Manus” government.