Maharashtra forest minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rathod resigned after meeting chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at his official residence.
Rathod decided to resign after his name surfaced in connection with the death of TikTok star Pooja Chavan.
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Chavan, the 22-year-old TikTok star allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a building at Pune on February 8.
According to a media report, minister Rathod met chief minister Thackeray on Sunday afternoon and discussed the issue.
During the meeting, 49-year-old Rathod was accompanied by his wife.
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Maharashtra urban development minister Eknath Shinde, transport minister Anil Parab and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray were also present during the meeting.
Rathod is a four-time MLA and is stated to be a strong leader in Shiv Sena stronghold Vidarbha region.
Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said if Rathod stays in the ministry then the BJP MLAs would resign from the Shakti Law Bill committee.
Rathod said he tendered his resignation to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray so that the probe should be unfair and impartial, and truth should come out.
He clarified that he just resigned as a minister and not as legislator.
“In an unfortunate incident a young girl from our Banjara community died and taking advantage of an incident, the opposition BJP through media and social media tried to destroy my political career,” Rathod said.
“Whatever I did in my 30 years of political and social field, have been destroyed by the opposition. Now the truth should come out through an impartial probe,” he added.