Maharashtra after the state’s agriculture minister, Manikrao Kokate, was reportedly seen playing ‘rummy’ on his mobile phone during a legislative assembly session.

The video, released today by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar, led the opposition to criticize the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule has called for Kokate’s resignation, stating that the Agriculture Minister was preoccupied with games while 750 farmers have taken their own lives in the last three months, according to ANI.

Condemning the minister for playing a game on his mobile during the assembly, as shown in the alleged video, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule remarked: “It is disgraceful that the agriculture minister (Manikrao Kokate) is engaged in online gaming while farmers are suffering and committing suicide. Manikrao Kokate must step down.”

In sharing the video, NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar also criticized the ruling alliance, stating, “Despite numerous agricultural issues unresolved and 8 farmers taking their lives daily in the state, the Agriculture Minister appears to have time to play rummy instead of addressing these concerns.”

“Will these misguided ministers and the government ever listen to the urgent requests of farmers for crop insurance, loan waivers, and price support: ‘Come to the fields of poor farmers sometimes, Maharaj’?” he posted on X in Marathi.

Maharashtra Minister Responds to Criticism

In response, Kokate defended his actions, claiming the opposition was using an “incomplete video” to attack him.

“If I know there is a camera, why would I be playing a game? I attempted to skip it twice; I was unaware of how to exit the game, but I managed to skip it the next moment,” the Maharashtra Minister explained.

He additionally asserted that he had taken out his mobile phone to check what was occurring in the lower house on YouTube, but instead, the game was downloaded onto his device.

“If you view the complete video, you will observe that I attempted to skip the game…I was trying to bypass it, but it didn’t function. The opposition is criticizing me based on a partial video,” he stated.

Sanjay Nirupam, a leader of Shiv Sena, also condemned the action and noted that a representative of the people should concentrate on significant matters while in the House.

“It is anticipated from a people’s representative to prioritize the crucial issues while in the House… I do not endorse such behavior, yet it is not a major political concern,” he remarked.