While Farmers Struggle, Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister Caught Playing Video Game

As Maharashtra's farmers battle drought, debt, and despair, their agriculture minister found something more pressing to do - play video game on his phone, right in the middle of a Legislative Assembly session.

Yes, while the state watches helplessly as an average of eight farmers take their own lives every day, Manikrao Kokate, the man in charge of agricultural policy, was seen glued to his screen - not to a weather update or a loan waiver document, but to a card game app.

The video, shared by NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Rohit Pawar, has understandably caused a political uproar. Pawar didn't hold back: "This is what governance looks like under the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Farmers are dying and the agriculture minister is playing rummy? They can't move without BJP's signal, and they clearly can't move farmers out of crisis either."

A House of Games, Not Governance

The Legislative Assembly, where crucial issues of public welfare are debated, is fast becoming a place of distraction - and disrespect. Leaders from all sides are weighing in. Jitendra Awhad called it a blatant insult to the very people Kokate represents. He reminded everyone how in Karnataka, legislators caught using phones in session were sent home in disgrace.

Kishori Pednekar of Shiv Sena (UBT) echoed the disappointment, lamenting how far the stature of elected representatives has fallen. "There was a time when being an MLA meant something. Now it means scrolling, swiping, and apparently, card games."

No Law, No Consequences?

Interestingly, BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar pointed out that no law currently prevents such conduct in the Assembly. He even recalled suggesting to then-CM Devendra Fadnavis that legislation was needed to maintain discipline. But nothing happened. As usual, accountability remains optional.

Bigger Political Currents?

Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut dropped a political bombshell, claiming that Union Home Minister Amit Shah wants four ministers removed from the Maharashtra Cabinet - Kokate reportedly among them. Whether this is a power play or an overdue course correction remains to be seen.

The Disconnect Is Clear

The real tragedy here isn't just a minister playing a game. It's the message it sends: that those in power are too comfortable, too distracted, too indifferent. That even as rural Maharashtra sinks deeper into crisis, its leaders are mentally elsewhere - on their phones, in their bubbles, far from the ground reality.