President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday accepted theresignation of Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant from the Union council of ministerswith immediate effect. The President has asked Union Minister Prakash Javadekarbe assigned the charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprisesin addition to his existing portfolios.

In a statement, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said that thePresident, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted Sawant`sresignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect.

"The President of India, as advised by the PrimeMinister, has accepted the resignation of Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant from theUnion Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article75 of the Constitution. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, thePresident has directed that Shri Prakash Javadekar, Cabinet Minister, beassigned the charge of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises,in addition to his existing portfolios," a statement read.

This comes a day after Sawant quit as the from the Unioncabinet after his party walked away from NDA over the power-sharing agreementin Maharashtra. "I took oath on May 30 as Union Minister of HeavyIndustries and Public Enterprises. BJP went back from their pre-election promises.During Lok Sabha elections, it was discussed that there would be equal sharingof power including the chief ministerial post. BJP is denying this now,"he had told reporters on Monday."It would not have been morally right forme to continue in the Centre as a new government is about to form inMaharashtra. So I have submitted my resignation to Prime Minister NarendraModi," he added.

BJP has cleared that it would not be forming government inMaharashtra owing to its relations with its ally Shiv Sena that turned bitterafter Assembly polls. Shiv Sena has asked for the chief ministerial post, ademand which was turned down by BJP which is the single largest party inMaharashtra.

The NDA alliance `Mayayuti` had received an absolutemajority in Maharashtra after the BJP won 105 and Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats inthe 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alsohinted at backing Shiv Sena on a condition that the latter party will have tosever its ties with ally BJP. NCP has 54 MLAs while its alliance partnerCongress which bagged 44 seats in Assembly polls.