Health min Sawant may resign soon

Mumbai, June 4: Shiv Sena refused ticket to Maharashtra health minister Dr Deepak Sawant to the Mumbai Graduates’ constituency of the state Legislative Council and he may have to resign soon, as per senior party leaders. Instead, it was given to the party’s Borivali vibhag pramukh Vilas Potnis. Mr Sawant had requested party chief Uddhav Thackeray to relieve him from the ministerial responsibility so that he could dedicate himself to party work, said sources. They said that Sena may ask all ministers, except industry minister Subhash Desai, to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Election of the Legislative Council is scheduled to be held on June 25 and Mr Sawant’s term expires on July 7. Shiv Sena had provided him the ticket twice but refused candidature this time.