'Rummy' video row: Never asked to resign by NCP leaders or CM Devendra Fadnavis, says Manikrao Kokate
A huge political firestorm erupted after videos purportedly showing Mr. Kokate playing a rummy game of cards in the State legislature went viral.
The Opposition has been demanding Mr. Kokate's resignation over his repeated remarks that have triggered controversies in the last few months. The NCP leader has denied allegations of playing a game of cards.
"I do not want to speak on this issue anymore. I will speak after the inquiry report (on the card game issue) is out," Mr. Kokate told a Marathi news channel in Pune. Mr. Kokate was reportedly ticked off by Ajit Pawar on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) during their meeting in Mantralaya.
Manikrao Kokate denies playing rummy during Assembly, calls controversy politically motivated
"I met Ajitdada on my own and clarified my stand. I had apologised to farmers recently during media interaction if their sentiments were hurt due to the card game controversy," he said.
Responding to a specific query, Mr. Kokate said neither he offered to quit as a Minister nor was he asked to step down by any leader of the NCP, government or the Chief Minister. He recently ignited another row by terming the State Government a "beggar" while clarifying his previous controversial remarks directed at farmers on the ₹1 crop insurance.
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister in row over video showing him playing rummy in Assembly
"The Chief Minister had expressed his displeasure over the beggar's statement. I called him up and clarified my stand. I blame it on the lack of articulation," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Palaniswami flays Communist parties as ‘slaves' of DMK
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. on Thursday said that irrespective of poll alliances, the functioning of political parties, post-election, should be based on their independent ideology. Addressing the people during his Makkalai Kaappom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom campaign at Rajapalayam, Mr. Palaniswami flayed the Communist parties for becoming 'slaves' of the DMK. 'As the principal opposition party, AIADMK has been raking up the problems faced by the people to the attention of the government. However, the Left parties do not criticise the ruling DMK both inside and outside the Assembly,' he said. While all political parties condemned the caste killing in Tirunelveli and sought a special law to curb the social menace, the allies of the DMK were in a pathetic state of seeking permission of DMK president M.K. Stalin to talk about the sensitive issue. The AIADMK has remained a force to reckon with due to its ideology, but the people's support to Communist parties was waning because they lacked ideology., he said. He reiterated that AIADMK's ideology and forming an election alliance were different issues altogether. 'We have formed an alliance based on the political situation, but even the DMK had political alliance with the BJP during the 1999 Lok Sabha and 2001 Assembly elections,' he pointed out to counter the criticism of CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan on AIADMK's alliance with the BJP. 'Do all parties of different States in INDI Alliance share the same ideology? The Congress is against the Communists in Kerala and against the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal,' he said. The Communist parties had failed to criticise the DMK on important issues suh as price rise, corporation workers' strike, Government employees demand for old pension scheme and the transport corporation employees' strike. 'The Left parties, which have remained aligned with the DMK for 10 long years, should then merge their parties with the DMK so that their ideologies remain the same [that of the DMK].' Left party leaders like P. Ramamoorthi and Kalyanasundaram joined AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran to give a long list of corruption charges against the then DMK Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, to the Governor. But, the present leaders were not so. 'DMK has been slowly gobbling up the Communist parties,' he said adding that the AIADMK was giving advice to the Communist parties with good intention. Party's Virudhunagar West district secretary K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji was present. Mr. Palaniswami would also address meetings at Srivilliputtur and Sivakasi.
Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- Indian Express
What's next for Gaza? 4 endgame scenarios as the war grinds on
Israel has decimated Hamas's military wing and reclaimed control across Gaza. Yet dozens of Israeli hostages remain in captivity, insurgent attacks persist, and Gaza is in ruins, sliding toward famine, with ceasefire talks at a standstill. What lies ahead? According to reports, both Israel and Hamas have laid out starkly different visions for how this war ends, while mediators, including the US, Qatar, and Egypt, struggle to bridge the divide. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a complete reoccupation of Gaza, the first since Israel withdrew in 2005. Israeli media suggest a Cabinet meeting on Thursday may finalise the decision. This would mean sending troops into the last pockets of Gaza where 2 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, including areas like Muwasi. The consequences could be catastrophic: more deaths, mass displacement, and danger to the remaining hostages, around 20 are believed to be alive. The move is backed by Netanyahu's far-right coalition, which advocates for the reconquest of Gaza, expulsion of its population, and the return of Jewish settlements. But it faces domestic resistance and would further isolate Israel diplomatically. Hamas has agreed to release hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal, a lasting ceasefire, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The Biden administration and UN Security Council endorsed this framework over a year ago, and a version of it was briefly realised in the Trump-brokered January ceasefire. That truce lasted six weeks, freed dozens of hostages, and brought in significant aid but collapsed in March when Israel resumed attacks. Israel insists a full withdrawal could allow Hamas to regroup and repeat another October 7-style assault. Netanyahu also faces political threats at home if he accepts such terms. Netanyahu says the war will end only when all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled or exiled. Even then, Israel would push for the 'voluntary emigration' of Gazans, a plan the international community largely sees as forced expulsion. Israel may agree to a short-term truce involving limited hostage releases, aid, and troop pullbacks. But any permanent settlement, Israel insists, must include Hamas's full disarmament. Hamas has offered to hand over power to other Palestinians but refuses to lay down arms as long as Israel occupies territories key to a future Palestinian state. In the absence of agreement, the war may grind on indefinitely. Daily Israeli strikes continue, with heavy civilian casualties. Hamas maintains a low-grade insurgency, and humanitarian efforts remain constrained. The hostages may remain in captivity for months or longer. With Israeli elections due by 2026, or possibly earlier, the political calculus could shift. US President Donald Trump, who brokered the June Iran-Israel ceasefire, has significant influence but has publicly backed Israel's terms. Asked this week if he would support Israel's reoccupation of Gaza, Trump said: 'It's going to be pretty much up to Israel.' (With Inputs from Associated Press)
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Monsoon session of Andhra Pradesh Legislature likely in September
The monsoon session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature is likely to be convened for about one week in September. The issue had come up for discussion before the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The dates of the session would not clash with other government programmes that month. 'The Assembly session will be conducted for seven working days. The government will pass Bills and amendments to various Acts, apart from discussing the development and welfare schemes,' a Minister said after the meeting. Shuffle of bureaucrats Meanwhile, highly-placed sources in the Secretariat said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is likely to shuffle bureaucrats after August 15. As the district Collectors were engaged in the arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations, the government would take a decision on IAS and IPS transfers after the event.
