Mumbai/Nagpur: A video that purportedly shows Manikrao Kokate, the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra and head of the National Congress Party, playing the game “Rummy” on his cell phone during the state legislature’s just-ended monsoon session has put him at the centre of a political uproar. As soon as the video became viral, opposition parties strongly criticised it, and the Chhava organisation protested.
Leaders of the opposition charged that the ruling administration was indifferent to the concerns of farmers. As part of his defence, Kokate explained on Sunday that he was trying to close a game app that he had downloaded that had been open for five to ten seconds as he was trying to see a YouTube video on the lower house proceedings.
Kokate clarified that he was just using his phone to check for information from the lower house when the incident happened, following the adjournment of the upper house session. Manikrao Kokate
Rohit Pawar, an MLA from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP group, shared the video on X (previously Twitter). Pawar made fun of the NCP group led by Ajit Pawar and their BJP partnership in his article.
He wrote:
“The BJP’s counsel is essential to the functioning of the ruling NCP faction. The Agriculture Minister, who obviously has no real employment, is seen finding time to play rummy despite the fact that there are numerous unresolved agricultural concerns and that eight farmers die by suicide every day. Manikrao Kokate
Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister and leader of the NCP, allegedly left without answering reporters’ questions regarding the video.
Activists from the Chhava organisation staged a protest in Latur in response to the dispute, which swiftly became violent. After the demonstrators threw playing cards at NCP state president Sunil Tatkare during a press conference calling for Kokate’s resignation, NCP employees were observed assaulting the demonstrators.
Vijay Wadettiwar, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), attacked the BJP-led administration, accusing it of “betraying” and being “deceitful” to farmers. Manikrao Kokate
NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto commented that Maharashtra, under BJP’s leadership, is no longer functioning like a peaceful state but is instead beginning to look like a chaotic MMA ring.
Reporters were told by Wadettiwar:
“The Agriculture Minister is occupied with playing games on his phone while farmers are dying.” Farmers are of little interest to this government. I implore the farming community to take a lesson from them.
Kokate insisted that the video was misinterpreted, stating:
“I was attempting to watch YouTube in order to follow the lower house session after the upper house adjourned. I was about to close the game app that I had downloaded when it briefly appeared. Why isn’t that section displayed? Manikrao Kokate
TV stations showed footage of Vijay Ghatge, the leader of Chhava, addressing Tatkare and protesting by flinging a stack of playing cards on his table. Before police entered and broke up the altercation, NCP employees quickly reacted with punches and blows.
The attack was justified, according to Suraj Chavan, head of the NCP’s youth section, who said Ghatge and his group used derogatory language against NCP leaders.
The Chhava group is well-known for planning religious and cultural activities and promoting the preservation of the fort.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) member Rohini Khadse responded to the incident by denouncing the violence and describing it as “unprecedented” in a progressive state such as Maharashtra. Manikrao Kokate
This is unthinkable in Maharashtra today. After Sunil Tatkare’s press conference wrapped up at a rest house in Latur, members of the Chhava organisation confronted him with questions regarding the Agriculture Minister’s conduct. At that point, they were attacked by Ajit Dada’s followers. This is unlike anything we have ever seen. People in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh may declare tomorrow that they do not want violence similar to that of Maharashtra in their states.
Crasto also cited other recent violent events, such as one in which BJP supporters attacked an NCP (SP) worker in the state assembly lobby and another in which Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad allegedly beat a restaurant attendant in a Mumbai lawmaker hostel.
He stated:
“Devendra Fadnavis, the Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, has to provide thoughtful responses. Has he lost command of his division? Or do thugs supported by the BJP believe that simply because their party is in power, they can enforce the law? Maharashtra’s citizens deserve answers right away.
Controversy is nothing new to Manikrao Kokate, the representative for the Sinnar constituency in the Nashik district. Manikrao Kokate
He was criticised back in April for implying that farmers misappropriate government program monies for wedding and engagement costs. Following harsh criticism, he apologised.
Kokate sparked even more indignation earlier this year when he likened farmers to beggars, saying:
“We offer crop insurance for ₹1, but some people still try to abuse it, even though beggars won’t take a rupee.”
Additionally, Kokate is facing legal issues. He and his brother Sunil Kokate were found guilty by a Nashik magistrate court of falsifying documents to obtain a government-allocated flat, and they were given a two-year prison sentence. They filed an appeal in a sessions court against the ruling.
The district court provided the Kokate brothers with temporary reprieve on March 5 by granting a stay of the sentence until a final decision on the appeal is made. Manikrao Kokate