Mumbai — In a development that has stirred sharp criticism and public mockery, Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate has been removed from the crucial Agriculture Ministry after a viral video showed him playing rummy on his mobile phone during a session of the state legislative assembly. The incident comes at a time when the state is grappling with severe agrarian distress, drawing widespread condemnation from opposition leaders, farmer groups, and civil society.
Late Thursday night, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued an order reassigning Kokate’s portfolio, in what is being interpreted as both a reprimand and a political signal. The agriculture ministry has now been entrusted to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Dattatray Bharane, while Kokate has been shifted to the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, previously held by Bharane.
Rummy in the House: A Viral Controversy
The controversy erupted after NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar posted a video clip on social media showing Kokate engrossed in a mobile game during assembly proceedings. With discussions on critical farmer issues dominating the monsoon session, the image of a minister playing cards struck a raw nerve across the political spectrum.
The opposition swiftly demanded Kokate’s resignation, calling his behaviour “disrespectful” and “insensitive.” However, rather than stepping down, Kokate was reassigned—prompting many to view the move as inadequate.
“This isn’t accountability; it’s an eyewash,” said Ambadas Danve, Leader of the Opposition from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. Taking a sarcastic jab, he quipped that rummy should now be declared the official sport of Maharashtra and ministers be allowed to bring playing cards into the Assembly.
Political Optics and Internal Disquiet
Kokate’s reassignment has also reignited debates about ministerial accountability and political expediency. The minister, already under fire in the past for controversial comments about farmers, now faces renewed scrutiny for his conduct at a time when large parts of Maharashtra are battling drought-like conditions.
Social activist Anjali Damania alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was reluctant to seek Kokate’s resignation outright, reportedly due to internal coalition dynamics. According to Damania, Pawar wanted a Shiv Sena minister to step down first in order to maintain political balance within the ruling alliance—hinting at behind-the-scenes negotiations.
Farmer leader Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana went a step further, asking bluntly:
“Does Kokate hold secrets that protect him from being dismissed?”
He added that a mere portfolio reshuffle falls short of the accountability Maharashtra’s farmers deserve.
A Symbolic Gesture or Genuine Reprimand?
While Kokate remains within the cabinet, his reassignment from the agriculture ministry—especially amid farmer hardships—has been seen by many as a public dressing-down. Yet, whether this move amounts to real accountability or merely a symbolic gesture to contain public backlash remains uncertain.
As public scrutiny intensifies, the reshuffle raises a critical question: is Maharashtra’s political leadership truly committed to ministerial responsibility, or is this yet another case of optics over action?
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