Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate found himself in the middle of controversy after a purported video of him playing an online card game on his phone in the Legislative Assembly surfaced on social media.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Rohit Pawar slammed Kokate while sharing the viral clips. Taking to X, Rohit wrote, "NCP (led by Ajit Pawar) cannot do anything without consulting the BJP. And therefore, when scores of farm issues are pending and every day eight farmers are ending their lives in Maharashtra, the agriculture minister does not seem to have any work and is spending time playing rummy."
"Will these misguided ministers and the government ever hear the desperate plea of farmers demanding crop insurance, loan waivers, and price support: 'Kabhi garib kisaanon ki kheton par bhi aao naa maharaaj' (Come to the fields of poor farmers sometimes, Maharaj)?"
Minister Kokate belongs to the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar and was elected to the Legislative Assembly from the Sinnar seat.
BJP leader Sudhir Mungatiwar responded to the controversy, saying that the minister will be warned but there is no law necessitating action against him for such activities.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar criticised the Minister, saying, "This is not the first time minister Kokate has been caught on the wrong foot. Earlier, too, he was found making irresponsible statements. The way he is behaving is nothing but an insult to democracy."
"There was a time when MLAs were held in high esteem, but today they are stooping low every day," she added.
NCP SP leader Jitendra Awhad took a jibe at Agriculture Minister by sharing a graphical image showing Kokate promoting the Rummy game with the caption, "Farmers, forget guarantees … play rummy…"
