Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate
Credit: X/@kokate_manikrao
Mumbai: At a time when NCP leader Manikrao Kokate faces two-year jail term in a case of cheating and fraud, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rebuked him over the issue of appointment of Personal Assistants and Officers on Special Duty (OSD).
Kokate, who is from the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is upset as his choice of OSD was not approved.
“Kokate may not know that the right to appoint PA and OSD is with the CM. The ministers send their proposal to the CM, who takes the final decision on it.
"This is not something new. I had clearly said in the cabinet that you can send the names you want, but I will not approve those whose names are involved in wrongdoings as fixers,” said Fadnavis.
“Till now, I have received 125 names, out of which I have cleared 109. I have not cleared the remaining names because some of them have allegations against them. There are perceptions about them in the ministry that they are fixers. Even if anyone is upset, I will not approve of such people,” the CM added.
Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi continues to demand his dismissal from the council of ministers and disqualification as an MLA- because of his conviction.
However, Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who belongs to the ruling BJP, replied that he had not received a certified copy of the Nashik court’s order and would take a decision only as per the rules mandated by the Election Commission of India.
Last week, the Nashik Magistrate’s court convicted Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate in the case registered in 1997 on the complaint of former minister late T S Dighole.
The case - involving alleged tampering of documents for illegal acquisition of two flats under the Chief Minister’s discretionary quota - was registered by the Sarkarwada police station of Nashik.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on the two brothers.