Maharashtra Minister Caught Playing Rummy In Assembly, Gives Bizarre Excuse

Kokate denied the allegations, insisting that the video was misleading. “I wasn’t playing any game. I was checking assembly proceedings on YouTube," he said.

Kokate denied the allegations, insisting that the video was misleading.

Source : X

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate found himself at the centre of a political storm on Sunday after a video surfaced showing him allegedly playing an online card game during a session of the state legislative council. The footage, widely shared on social media, triggered a sharp backlash from opposition leaders, who accused the minister of being indifferent to the plight of farmers.

The controversy erupted after NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar posted the video online, criticising Kokate for “passing time with rummy” while farmers across Maharashtra continued to suffer.

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate's video of him playing Junglee Rummy, an online card game, on his phone in the Legislative Assembly proves how the BJP led state government is 'Gambling' with the lives of farmers.
Farmers are committing suicide due to lack of… pic.twitter.com/9WZpwtvSsG

— Clyde Crasto (@Clyde_Crasto) July 20, 2025

“Eight farmers are dying by suicide every day, but the agriculture minister has no work to do,” Pawar wrote. He accused the ruling NCP faction of being powerless without BJP approval and ignoring key farmer demands like crop loan waivers and insurance.

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut Condemns Maharashtra Govt

Opposition leaders from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition joined in the criticism. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut condemned the government’s “insensitive” approach, saying, “Instead of addressing issues raised by farmers walking from Latur to Mumbai, the agriculture minister is busy playing games.” Raut also claimed that Kokate’s removal from the cabinet was imminent.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar echoed the sentiment, accusing the government of betrayal. “This is a lying and cheating administration that doesn’t care about farmers,” he said.

In response, Kokate denied the allegations, insisting that the video was misleading. “I wasn’t playing any game. I was checking assembly proceedings on YouTube when an ad for Junglee Rummy appeared. I skipped it in seconds, but someone recorded that moment to defame me,” he said.

While Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik attempted to downplay the row by comparing Kokate’s actions to celebrities playing games, the controversy has further strained the image of the ruling alliance amid rising farmer distress.