'Rummy' video row: Pressure mounts on NCP minister Kokate to step down

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis is upset after video of Kokate playing an online rummy game on his phone inside legislature went viral on social media platforms.

Mumbai: Even as internal squabbles within the BJP-led Maha Yuti government in Maharashtra continue to come to light, pressure is mounting on NCP's Manikrao Kokate to step down as the state’s Agriculture Minister for playing online rummy game inside the legislature and his controversial statements involving the use of word “begger” for the government as well as farmers on separate occasions.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is very upset after the video of Kokate playing an online rummy game on his smartphone inside the legislature went viral on social media platforms. 

“No comments,” said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is the NCP national president. 

Meanwhile, state NCP president and Raigad MP Sunil Tatkare said that any decision on the issue would be taken by Pawar. 

Kokate, a five-time MLA from Sinnar in Nashik district, said he would write to Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Legislative Council Chairman Prof Ram Shinde, seeking a probe. 

“I'll be asking for an inquiry to determine whether I was playing a game or not. If the inquiry report finds me guilty, I'll resign during the winter session in Nagpur,” said Kokate, who is from the NCP. 

While the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi is mounting pressure on Kokate to step down, there are whispers within the ruling BJP-led Maha Yuti, which is facing a major embarrassment  in view of the agrarian distress, unseasonal rainfall and increasing suicides by farmers. 

After the video went viral, Kokate had said: “The proceedings of Upper House ended…I was browsing to know what was happening in the Lower House….that's why opened YouTube…At that time, Junglee Rummy advertisements popped up and in seconds, I switched to another page…I was skipping the advertisements…see the entire browsing history…I have not committed any sin…since my work is transparent, why would I indulge in such things? I didn’t even notice the ad. I skipped that second itself.”

However, later, he clarified: “It wasn't rummy, but solitaire on my phone. Some PA or OSD must have downloaded that game on my phone”.

The NCP leadership too seems to be upset over the rummy episode and earlier statements of Kokate on farmers like "even a beggar does not take Re 1 as alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Rs 1. Even then there are people who try to misuse it. There are irregularities like people from other states applying” and “crop loans are being misused for other purposes like engagements and weddings.”

However, on Tuesday, to clarify things, Kokate said that he termed the government a “beggar” - and the “beggar” comment was not for farmers.
After this, Fadnavis said: “It is inappropriate for ministers to speak in such a manner.”