Kokate stirred fresh outrage after appearing to liken the state government to “beggars” while defending an earlier remark about the farmers’ insurance scheme. “I had said that even beggars don’t accept a single rupee. People misquoted me, claiming I was calling farmers beggars," Kokate stated
Screengrab of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing a card game during the Assembly session. PIC/X/@RRPSpeaks
In just 48 hours, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has twice expressed his displeasure with Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate — a clear indication that all is not well for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLA from Sinnar in Nashik. On Sunday, Kokate triggered a controversy after a video of him allegedly playing mobile games during a session of the state legislature went viral. While Kokate denied the charge, both Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar voiced their displeasure.
Then, on Tuesday, Kokate stirred fresh outrage after appearing to liken the state government to “beggars” while defending an earlier remark about the farmers’ insurance scheme. “I had said that even beggars don’t accept a single rupee. People misquoted me, claiming I was calling farmers beggars. But that’s not true. It’s the government that gives the R1 to insurance companies, not the farmers,” Kokate clarified. The implication, that the government was being compared to beggars, sparked immediate backlash.
NCP-SP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule called the comment “an insult to all the hard work done by former chief ministers to develop Maharashtra.” Reacting to the comment, Fadnavis said, “I haven’t heard the full statement. But if the minister has indeed made such a remark, it’s wrong. Maharashtra is in a sound financial position.”
Kokate, a minister in the Mahayuti coalition (comprising the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP), is already under fire from both the Opposition and within the government over the gaming video. The footage, shared on X by Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Rohit Pawar, allegedly shows Kokate playing a mobile game during a session of the state legislature. The video has triggered calls for Kokate’s resignation from Opposition parties, activists, and farmer organisations.
Addressing the media, Kokate refused to resign, stating, “I’ve done nothing wrong.” He announced that he would write to CM Fadnavis, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, and Council Chairperson Ram Shinde to demand an official inquiry. “If the report finds me guilty, I will resign before the Governor during the Nagpur winter session,” he said.
He further warned of legal action against those defaming him, stating that he would ask for phone records and call data to investigate who was behind the video leak and whether it was part of a deliberate smear campaign. “All those responsible, from the one who recorded the video to those who made it viral, will face legal proceedings,” he said.
Kokate claimed that he was not playing a game, but that a YouTube ad had popped up on his phone while he was trying to track legislative proceedings during a brief adjournment. Following the viral video, both Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had on Monday publicly expressed disapproval of Kokate’s conduct.
In fact, on Sunday, when NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) State President Sunil Tatkare was asked if Kokate would resign, he said, “Ajit Pawar and senior party leaders will take a call.” This led many to believe Kokate would announce his resignation at Tuesday’s press conference. Instead, the embattled minister doubled down, offering no apology and warning of legal action, further angering the state’s top leadership and sparking yet another controversy.
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