Internet Desk: Former India cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla will be among the new faces in West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s new council of ministers. Laxmi along with Mayor Sovon Chatterjee , retired IPS officer Abani Joardar , James Kujur and singer Indranil Sen will be the new faces in the ministry. The new council of ministers will be sworn in on Friday, May 27. The strength of the ministry would be 42, including the chief minister, Banerjee announced on Thursday, May 26 after submitting the list to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at the Raj Bhavan.
As the chief minister was reading the names of the new council of ministers at Raj Bhavan, Laxmi was with his father in his residence in North Howrah. A visibly excited Laxmi could not hide his emotions over the phone. According to him, “Whatever role I will be given, I will try and fulfill it. I will give my 100 percent effort and try to work with utmost honesty. I would like to do something for the people of Howrah.”
The former Bengal captain is tipped for a very key post in the ministry. As per rumours, the dashing all rounder may replace Arup Biswas as the new Sports Minister. Although there is no confirmation yet as to which ministry Laxmi will be getting.
According to Laxmi, “I have never dreamt of coming so far in my political career which is just few months old. My mother would have been extremely happy to hear the news. I would like to thank everyone in my family and my friends particularly to stay beside me.”
Thirty-five-year-old Laxmi Ratan Shukla rode Trinamool Congress’ popularity in West Bengal to win the Howrah (North) seat. The ex-Bengal Ranji all-rounder polled 61,917 votes to get the better of Congress candidate Santosh Pathak and celebrity BJP candidate and former actress Rupa Ganguly.