The Maharashtra Governor on Wednesday accepted the proposal to transfer Kokate’s portfolios to Ajit Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party and is a key ally in the ruling coalition, which includes the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena
The decision comes after Kokate’s conviction by the sessions court in Nashik. File Pic/X
Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat on Wednesday accepted the request to allot state minister Manikrao Kokate’s portfolio to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The decision comes after Kokate’s conviction by the sessions court in Nashik.
Kokate, a cabinet minister in the Mahayuti government, was recently convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in a housing quota irregularities case.
After the conviction was upheld by a sessions court, pressure mounted on the state government to remove him from ministerial responsibilities.
Manikrao Kokate, an MLA from Sinnar in Nashik district, had previously held important portfolios, including the agriculture ministry, before being shifted to the sports ministry after an earlier controversy.
Maharashtra Governor accepts recommendations
The Maharashtra Governor on Wednesday accepted the proposal, sent by CM Devendra Fadnavis, to transfer Kokate’s portfolios to Ajit Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party and is a key ally in the ruling coalition, which includes the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
In a letter to CM Fadnavis, Maharashtra Governor stated, "I have received your letter dated 17th December, 2025 recommending to allocate the portfolio of "Sports & Youth welfare, Minorities Development & Aukať held by Adv. Manikrao Saraswati Shivaji Kokate, Minister to Ajit Ashatai Anantrao Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister (Finance & Planning, State Excise). I hereby convey my approval to your above mentioned recommendation."
Arrest warrant issued against Kokate
A district court in Nashik issued an arrest warrant against Maharashtra Sports Minister and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Manikrao Kokate on Wednesday in connection with a cheating and forgery case dating back to 1995.
The warrant followed a day after the sessions court upheld the two-year prison sentence awarded to him by a magistrate’s court earlier this year.
The arrest warrant was issued after Anjali Dighole-Rathod, daughter of the original complainant and former Maharashtra minister late T S Dighole, filed an application seeking Kokate’s arrest. Kokate was not present during the proceedings.
Nashik District and Sessions Court Judge P M Badar directed Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rupali Nadvadia to take action, following which the arrest warrant was issued. Nashik police are expected to initiate further proceedings.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Kokate approached the Bombay High Court challenging his conviction and sentence.
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