Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate is facing trouble after an NCP (SP) MLA shared videos alleging he was playing an online game on his phone during the recent Monsoon Session. However, Kokate had earlier claimed he was just trying to skip a downloaded game. Yet, MLA insists that the videos clearly show the minister actively playing
Kokate is currently at the centre of a storm over a video purportedly showing him playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during the Monsoon Session 2025. File pic
In a fresh trouble for Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Jitendra Awhad on Monday posted two videos, alleging that the NCP leader was playing "Junglee Rummy" on his mobile phone during the recent Monsoon Session 2025 of the state legislature, reported news agency PTI.
Kokate is currently at the centre of a storm over a video purportedly showing him playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during the Monsoon Session 2025. After NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar initially posted Kokate's video, the minister clarified on Sunday that he was merely trying to skip a downloaded game on his mobile phone. He stated he was checking his phone when the Upper House of the state legislature was adjourned.
"Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate was playing Junglee Rummy when the legislature proceedings were underway and the Question Hour had started," Awhad stated on X (formerly Twitter). "Now, I'm providing two videos. Watch both videos carefully... you'll see which card was moved where and how. Manikrao Kokate himself is sliding the cards of online gambling with his fingers. Tell me, how much more evidence is needed? I'll provide as much evidence as you ask for."
Furthermore, Awhad alleged that Kokate has turned Maharashtra itself into a "game of gambling." He also rejected Kokate's earlier claim that he was not playing Junglee Rummy on his mobile phone but was skipping an advertisement, reported PTI.
Meanwhile, the minister's video clip has ignited a significant political row, with widespread demands for his removal from the state cabinet.
Responding to the criticism, Kokate had said, "When the upper house of the state legislature was adjourned, I took out my mobile phone to check the business transacted in the lower house and was trying to open YouTube. The downloaded game suddenly opened, and I was skipping it. It was a matter of just 5 to 10 seconds; why that part was not shown?" he had told reporters.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare on Monday stated that party head and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would take serious note of the video and provide instructions to the minister accordingly.
"The statements made by the Agriculture Minister in the past were not correct. Party president Ajit Pawar had earlier spoken to him about that. In this video issue also, Pawar will take a serious note and instructions will be given to Kokate accordingly," Tatkare told reporters.
(With inputs from PTI)
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