In a significant political development, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Manikrao Kokate was stripped of all his ministerial responsibilities on Wednesday. This decisive action came just hours after a court in Nashik issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him and his brother, Vijay, in connection with a 1995 Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing quota cheating case.
Court Conviction and Immediate Fallout
The warrants were issued after the Nashik sessions court upheld a trial court's February 20 judgment. The court had convicted the Kokate brothers and sentenced them to two years of rigorous imprisonment. The case revolves around allegations that they secured two flats in 1995 under the state's 10% EWS quota by falsely declaring a lower income.
On Wednesday, the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rupali C Narwadiya in Nashik rejected Kokate's application for a four-day surrender time on medical grounds, leading directly to the issuance of the arrest warrants. In response, Kokate approached the Bombay High Court seeking urgent relief. His lawyer argued that without a stay on the conviction, the minister would lose his position and face disqualification as a public representative. The High Court has posted the hearing for Friday.
Swift Political Action and Internal Pressure
Following the court's move, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acted swiftly. Sources confirmed that CM Fadnavis wrote to Governor Acharya Devvrat, recommending that Kokate be divested of his portfolios—Sports and Youth Welfare, and Minority Development and Aukaf. The recommendation also proposed that these portfolios be handed over to NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Governor Devvrat promptly approved the CM's recommendation.
This development intensified pressure within the NCP. A section of party functionaries from northern Maharashtra publicly demanded Kokate's resignation. The opposition also seized the moment, stating that merely removing his portfolios was insufficient and calling for his immediate disqualification.
Kokate's Troubled Tenure and Predecessor's Case
Kokate, the MLA from Sinnar in Nashik, is the second NCP politician to face action since the Mahayuti alliance formed the government in November last year. Earlier, on March 4 this year, Dhananjay Munde had to step down after the CM sought his resignation over allegations linking his associate to a murder case. NCP had then appointed Chhagan Bhujbal in his place.
Kokate's own tenure has been marred by controversy. Earlier this year, he faced severe criticism for his comments against farmers seeking loan waivers. Subsequently, he was moved out of the agriculture ministry after a video surfaced that purportedly showed him playing a game on his phone during a Legislative Council session. Though he denied the allegation, his agriculture portfolio was given to NCP's Datta Bharane, and he was entrusted with the sports portfolio instead.
Regional Politics and Succession Debate
The controversy has triggered a debate over Kokate's replacement within the NCP, especially with an eye on upcoming municipal corporation elections in the region. Party workers from several districts in northern Maharashtra have urged the leadership to replace him, arguing that the scandal has damaged the party's image.
Cadre have suggested two senior NCP legislators from the region as potential replacements: Anil Bhaidas Patil (Amalner, Jalgaon) or Sangram Jagtap (Ahilyanagar city). Supporters of Jagtap argue he is the natural choice from the region, while cadre from the Khandesh region (comprising Dhule, Jalgaon, and Nandurbar) insist that Anil Bhaidas Patil, the state NCP vice-president and the party's lone MLA from Khandesh, deserves the ministerial berth.
Meanwhile, Kokate was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik confirmed that the police have received the non-bailable arrest warrants against the minister and his brother. The political and legal drama is set to continue with the Bombay High Court hearing on Friday.
