“I have received his resignation letter. Laxmi is a good boy and he wants to return to sports. There is no misunderstanding,” CM Mamata Banerjee responded.
Former Ranji captain of West Bengal and a minister in the state government led by Mamata Banerjee, Laxmi Ratan Shukla has stepped down. The 39-year-old’s resignation comes shortly after several Trinamool Congress leaders joined the BJP, with the election to the legislative assembly just months away.
“I have received his resignation letter. Laxmi is a good boy and he wants to return to sports. There is no misunderstanding… He will continue as MLA till the election and I have recommended to the governor that his resignation should be accepted,” CM Mamata Banerjee responded.
Mr Shukla, who has also represented the IPL franchise of Kolkata Knight Riders, is a TMC MLA of Howrah (Uttar) constituency. In his letter to Ms Banerjee, the former cricketer said he wants to “retire” from politics.
Mr Shukla joined Ms Banerjee’s party before the last state election in 2016 and won.
The BJP has emerged as the biggest challenge for the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. With the exit of her longtime colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP, troubles for TMC have only increased in the last few days.
“Didi would be left alone by the time polls come,” Home Minister Amit Shah had said while inducting Adhikari and other officials into BJP.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
