Archive · 20 Jul 2025
Maharashtra Minister in Controversy Over Phone Use During Assembly
A Maharashtra minister, Manikrao Kokate, was seen playing a game on his phone during a state assembly meeting.
A fellow politician, Rohit Pawar, criticized him, saying he was playing rummy while the state faces agricultural problems.
Kokate said it was actually a solitaire game and that he was trying to skip an ad on YouTube.
This caused debate and brought attention to farmer issues in the state.
Another minister said that there is no law to punish him.
Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate was seen playing a game on his phone during a Legislative Assembly session.
Rohit Pawar, a Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader, alleged Kokate was playing online rummy amid an agrarian crisis.
Kokate claimed he was playing a solitaire game, not rummy, and was trying to skip an ad.
BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar stated there is no law to take action against Kokate.
The incident sparked criticism and calls for attention to the state's agricultural issues.
- Who
- Manikrao Kokate, Rohit Pawar, and Sudhir Mungantiwar
- What
- Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate was seen playing a game during a Legislative Assembly session.
- When
- During a Legislative Assembly session.
- Where
- Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
- Why
- Controversy arose due to the context of an agrarian crisis in the state.
Criticism
Defense
Appropriateness of Actions
Criticism
Minister Kokate's actions show a lack of concern for serious agricultural issues.
Defense
Kokate claims he was not playing rummy, but a different game, and there is no law to stop the actions.
- Politician
- Manikrao Kokate
- Political Party
- Nationalist Congress Party (SP)
- Accusation
- Playing online rummy
- Defense
- Playing solitaire
- Critic
- Rohit Pawar
- Response
- No legal action is possible.