**Maharashtra Government Transfers Manikrao Kokate Amid Controversy**
The Maharashtra government has reassigned Manikrao Kokate from his position as Agriculture Minister to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare following public outrage over a viral video. The video allegedly depicts Kokate playing online rummy during a Legislative Assembly session, prompting significant political backlash. Dattatray Bharne has been appointed as the new Agriculture Minister.
The controversy ignited when NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar shared a clip showing Kokate seemingly engaged in an online rummy game during Assembly proceedings. This incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who condemned Kokate’s perceived insensitivity, especially as Maharashtra faces severe agrarian distress, with reports indicating that eight farmers are committing suicide daily in the state.
Rohit Pawar expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “Since the Nationalist faction in power cannot do anything without consulting the BJP, the Agriculture Minister, with nothing else to do, seems to have time to play rummy.” Kokate has denied the allegations, claiming he was only closing a pop-up window for 10-15 seconds and threatened legal action against his accusers. However, a legislative investigation revealed that he had interacted with the game for 18 to 22 minutes, contradicting his defense, according to Rohit Pawar.
This is not the first instance of Kokate facing criticism; he previously sparked controversy by comparing farmers to beggars and has a history of legal issues, including a conviction in a 1995 housing fraud case, which was later stayed.
Tensions escalated further on July 20, when a violent clash occurred at a resthouse in Latur. Members of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP allegedly assaulted Vijaykumar Ghadge, the state president of All India Chhava Sanghatna, after activists disrupted a press conference held by NCP’s Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare. Protesters threw a deck of playing cards at the venue, demanding Kokate’s resignation over the viral video incident.
In summary, the reassignment of Manikrao Kokate highlights the ongoing political tensions in Maharashtra, particularly concerning agricultural issues and the accountability of public officials.
**FAQ**
**What led to Manikrao Kokate’s reassignment as Agriculture Minister?**
Manikrao Kokate was reassigned due to public outrage over a viral video that allegedly showed him playing online rummy during a Legislative Assembly session, which many viewed as insensitive given the state’s ongoing agrarian crisis.