by | arvind jadhav | political news
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate is facing a fresh controversy after NCP (Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar posted a video on social media allegedly showing Kokate playing ‘rummy’ on his mobile phone during a Legislative Council session in the monsoon session of the legislature. The opposition has demanded Kokate’s resignation over the incident, but the minister has denied the allegations. Rohit Pawar shared a video clip on social media platform ‘X’, purportedly showing Kokate playing the card game Rummy. Pawar criticized Kokate and the government for not addressing farmers’ demands regarding crop insurance, loan waivers, and family reparations. The opposition has called for Kokate’s resignation or for the Chief Minister to remove him from office.
Kokate denied playing ‘Rummy’, stating he was closing a downloaded game on his mobile. He claimed Rohit Pawar broadcast a partial video clip and criticized the opposition’s tactics, saying they focus on “slander and defaming the government” because they know they won’t come to power.
Other political figures weighed in on the controversy. NCP (Sharad Pawar) MLA Jitendra Awhad made a sarcastic remark about farmers and promises while referencing rummy. Former MP Raju Shetty criticized Kokate, questioning his lack of shame given eight farmers commit suicide daily in the state. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar commented that the government isn’t concerned with farmers and suggested farmers should teach Kokate a lesson.
