NCP (SP) Blasts Ajit Pawar for Backing Kokate Amid Rummy Scandal

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) has unleashed a scathing attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for failing to demand the resignation of NCP minister Manikrao Kokate, who was recently reassigned from Agriculture to Sports and Youth Affairs following a series of controversies.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto expressed shock that a “disciplined” leader like Pawar would shield Kokate, accusing the minister of insulting farmers and tarnishing the state government’s image.

Kokate, a five-time MLA from Sinnar, Nashik, faced intense backlash after a viral video allegedly showed him playing an online rummy game during a legislative council session on July 20, 2025. The incident, exposed by NCP (SP) leaders Rohit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad, triggered widespread outrage, particularly given Maharashtra’s agrarian crisis, with reports of eight daily farmer suicides. Kokate’s earlier remarks, comparing farmers to beggars while defending a Re 1 crop insurance scheme and calling the government a “beggar,” had already drawn sharp criticism.

In a late-night cabinet reshuffle on July 31, 2025, Kokate was shifted to the Sports, Youth Welfare, Minority Development, and Auqaf departments, while Dattatray Bharne, a Pawar loyalist, took over Agriculture. The move, notified by the General Administration Department, followed weeks of opposition pressure and internal NCP discussions. Crasto, in a fiery post on X, questioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s silence, asking, “Is he endorsing Kokate, a man who has insulted Maharashtra’s farmers and government?”

Also Read: Maharashtra Minister Kokate Ousted from Agriculture Post Over Rummy Scandal

The NCP (SP) spokesperson warned that leniency toward Kokate would embolden further misconduct, stating, “How shameful can it be? Kokate continues to mock brazenly.” The controversy has highlighted tensions within the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. Sources suggest Pawar opted for a portfolio swap to quell the embarrassment after Kokate apologized in a July 29 meeting, vowing to avoid future controversies. However, Kokate’s denial of the rummy allegations and his call for a video probe have kept the issue alive.

The opposition, including NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, has demanded Kokate’s ouster, arguing his actions have “defamed Maharashtra nationally.” Farmer organizations and groups like Chhava Sanghatana have staged protests, amplifying the political fallout. As the rummy row continues to simmer, it raises questions about Ajit Pawar’s leadership and the Mahayuti government’s sensitivity to farmers’ plight, potentially impacting its credibility ahead of future elections.

Also Read: Kokate’s Fate Hangs in Balance After Tense Meeting with Ajit Pawar