In a significant political development, Maharashtra Cabinet minister Manikrao Kokate tendered his resignation on Thursday, a day after being stripped of all his ministerial responsibilities. The move comes in the wake of a Nashik court sentencing him to two years of rigorous imprisonment in a decades-old housing quota fraud case.
The Legal Conviction That Triggered the Fall
Manikrao Kokate, the MLA from Sinnar, was convicted for securing two flats in 1995 under the state's 10 per cent Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota by falsely declaring his income. The court of additional chief judicial magistrate Rupali C Narwadiya in Nashik rejected Kokate's application for more time to surrender on medical grounds. Instead, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him and his brother, Vijay.
Following the court's decision, the Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, swiftly divested Kokate of all his portfolios on Wednesday. This set the stage for his formal resignation the next day.
Resignation Accepted, Portfolios Reallocated
Kokate submitted his resignation to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio. Pawar announced that the resignation had been accepted "in principle" in line with the party's philosophy that the rule of law is supreme. He forwarded the resignation to CM Fadnavis for final consideration and acceptance as per constitutional procedure.
Simultaneously, Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat acted on a letter from CM Fadnavis and officially reallocated the ministries previously held by Kokate. The portfolios of Sports and Youth Affairs, Minority Affairs, and Waqf have now been allotted to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar himself.
Political Repercussions and Health Grounds
This incident marks the second time a politician from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has faced action since the Mahayuti alliance formed the government in November 2024. Earlier, in March, Dhananjay Munde had to step down following allegations linking his associate to a murder case.
The opposition had been vocal, arguing that merely removing Kokate's portfolios was insufficient and demanding his immediate disqualification. A section of NCP functionaries had also called for his resignation.
On the legal front, while the Nashik police confirmed receiving the non-bailable warrants, the Bombay High Court has scheduled a hearing for Friday on Kokate's application for relief. Meanwhile, Kokate was admitted to Mumbai's Leelavati Hospital on Wednesday, citing health reasons.
The case, dating back to 1995, has finally caught up with the minister, enforcing a stark reminder of accountability and setting a precedent within the state's political landscape.
