In a fresh setback to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress minister and former cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla has resigned from the government. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who served as Minister of State for Sports, has also resigned from his post as the Trinamool Congress district president in Howrah. However, Shukla continues to be a TMC MLA. Shukla's resignation has come days after several Trinamool leaders, including Mamata's close aide Suvendu Adhikari quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Shukla sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a copy of it to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.
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According to reports, Shukla, MLA of Howrah (Uttar), in his resignation letter to Mamata Banerjee expressed his willingness to 'retire' from politics. The 39-year-old cricketer-turned-politician had served as the captain of Bengal Ranji team.
Reacting over Shukla's resignation, Mamata Banerjee said he wants to return to sports and want to work in that field. The Bengal CM asserted that there was no 'misunderstanding'.
"He will continue as MLA till the election and I have recommended to the governor that his resignation should be accepted," Mamata said.
READ MORE: Another jolt to Mamata, 15 TMC councillors including Suvendu's younger brother join BJP
Earlier this week, in a boost to the saffron camp in poll-bound West Bengal, 15 TMC councillors of Contai Municipality led by former administrator of the civic board and younger brother of Suvendu Adhikari left the party on Friday to join the saffron camp. Political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, who quit the Trinamool Congress to join the BJP last month, handed over party flags to the councillors. Among them was his younger brother Soumendu, the former administrator of the 20-member civic body.
The politically influential Adhikari household has two other members in the TMC camp -- his brother Dibyendu Adhikari and father Sisir Adhikari, both MPs
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