NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar ignited a political storm by sharing a video on X, allegedly showing Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing the mobile game “Junglee Rummy” during a state assembly session in Nagpur. Pawar, a vocal critic of the ruling NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, accused Kokate of neglecting pressing agricultural issues while farmers face dire circumstances, including an average of eight daily suicides in the state.

In his post, Pawar remarked, “The ruling NCP faction can’t function without BJP’s approval, so while countless agricultural issues remain unresolved, the Agriculture Minister, with no work, finds time to play rummy.” He sarcastically added, “Come to the fields of poor farmers sometimes, Maharaj. Stop the game, give loan waivers.” The video, widely circulated on social media, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, with Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar calling the Mahayuti government “deceitful” and urging farmers to “teach them a lesson.”

Kokate, previously convicted in February 2025 for a 30-year-old case involving fraudulent acquisition of flats, offered a brief explanation, claiming he was “messaging someone” during the session, but neither he nor the NCP has issued a formal response. The incident has fueled outrage, with opposition leaders like Jitendra Awhad labeling it an “insult to democracy,” especially given Kokate’s failure to address farmers’ queries in the assembly.

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