Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate has been removed from his position and reassigned as the Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare following a controversy over allegedly playing an online card game during a legislative council session. The decision, which came after a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, effectively removes Kokate from the agriculture portfolio amidst mounting criticism.
The controversy began when a video surfaced, purportedly showing Kokate playing "rummy" on his mobile phone during the monsoon session of the state legislative council. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Rohit Pawar posted the video on social media, leading to widespread condemnation. Kokate initially denied the allegations, stating that he was merely trying to skip an advertisement for an online gaming app that popped up on his screen while he was trying to follow the proceedings of the Lower House. He claimed that the video only showed a portion of the incident and that the full video would clarify that he was not playing the game.
Adding to Kokate's woes, he also faced backlash for comments he made regarding farmers and the state government. He referred to the government as a "beggar" while explaining his earlier comments on the Re 1 crop insurance scheme for farmers. He stated, "Even a beggar does not take Re 1 in alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Re 1. Even then, some people try to misuse it". These remarks drew the displeasure of Chief Minister Fadnavis.
The opposition had been demanding Kokate's resignation due to his controversial remarks and actions. Amid the uproar, Kokate maintained that he had not been asked to resign by either the NCP or the Chief Minister. He also stated that he had apologized to farmers if their sentiments were hurt due to the card game controversy.
Dattatray Bharne, who was previously in charge of the Sports and Youth Welfare Ministry, is expected to replace Kokate as the Agriculture Minister. Bharne has stated his willingness to take on any responsibility assigned to him. Kokate will also be in charge of minority development and Auqaf departments.
The move to reassign Kokate's portfolio is seen as an attempt by the ruling alliance to mitigate the damage caused by the controversies. Chief Minister Fadnavis has reportedly been upset with ministers from the NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for stirring controversies. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar decided to act against Kokate after having warned him on several occasions in the past. While some speculated that Kokate might be removed from the cabinet altogether, sources indicated that the portfolio change was a middle ground.
The incident has fueled broader speculation about a potential cabinet reshuffle in Maharashtra. Fadnavis's recent meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other top BJP leaders in Delhi further intensified these rumors. Political analysts suggest that the reshuffle may be aimed at addressing the criticism faced by several ministers and legislators.
