MUMBAI: After five days of Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Rathod resigning from the cabinet, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray finally forwarded it to the governor.
The resignation letter was accepted immediately by the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari after it was sent to Raj Bhavan on Thursday evening.
Governor also approved the proposal of handing over the forest portfolio, which was with Rathod, to the chief minister.
Rathod is the first cabinet minister in the Thackeray led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government who has stepped down unceremoniously.
A day before the budget session of the Maharashtra legislature began on Monday, Rathod who has been facing allegations over death of 22-year-old woman by suicide in Pune, had tendered his resignation to Thackeray on Sunday.
The 49-year-old Rathod is a four-time MLA and represents Digras assembly constituency. He is known to be a heavyweight leader from the Banjara community which has a large presence in Yavatmal and Washim areas in Vidarbha region, strongholds of Shiv Sena.
Rathod, along with his wife, had met Thackeray at chief minister’s official residence, Varsha, on Sunday.
On Wednesday, opposition BJP threatened to protest as the CM didn't forward Rathod's resignation to governor for four days after his resignation.