Days after row over mobile game, Kokate stripped of Agri portfolio, moved to Sports
Kokate, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has now been assigned the Youth Welfare, Sports and Minority Development department, while NCP minister Dattatraya Bharne, who previously held it has been appointed agriculture minister.
The reshuffle came following mounting pressure from the Opposition, which had demanded Kokate's resignation over the viral video.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar submitted the reshuffle proposal to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Thursday morning. Sources said the decision was expedited to contain further damage to the government's image.
The controversy also found a mention in Tuesday's state cabinet meeting, where CM Fadnavis issued a stern warning to his council of ministers. Without naming Kokate, he cautioned ministers against 'indulging in conduct that embarrasses the government' and added that repeated controversies were providing unnecessary ammunition to the Opposition and distracting from the administration's achievements.
On July 20, the purported video of Kokate playing an online card game on his phone in the Legislative Assembly was put out on social media by Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Rohit Pawar.
However, Kokate denied the allegation and said, 'I was not playing Rummy… I was trying to watch YouTube to find out what was happening in the Lower House. Someone had downloaded the game on the phone, and I was just trying to skip it. The video might be from when I was trying to close it.'
On Wednesday, Rohit Pawar claimed that Kokate played Rummy in the House for much longer than he had claimed.
In a social media post, Rohit Pawar said, 'The Agriculture Minister was not playing Rummy for just 42 seconds but for 18 to 22 minutes. This has become clear from the probe report of the state legislature. This report has been submitted to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. Will the government clarify about it?'
A day later, Kokate was removed from his post.
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