Maharashtra's Sports Minister, Manikrao Kokate, was found guilty by a court on Tuesday in a case concerning the allocation of an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flat. This conviction has triggered immediate and loud demands from opposition parties for his removal from the state cabinet and his disqualification as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
Opposition Cites Precedent, Accuses Government of Bias
The opposition has been quick to draw parallels with past incidents, notably the swift disqualification of former Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi following his conviction in a defamation case in 2023. They have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of applying a double standard when dealing with allies versus opposition members.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal stated that while Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sunil Kedar lost their parliamentary and assembly memberships within a day of their convictions, the government is now shielding Kokate. He asserted that one rule of justice is being used for those in power and another for the opposition, demanding Kokate's immediate dismissal.
Echoing this sentiment, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde and senior leader Eknath Khadse called for Kokate to respect the court's order and resign on moral grounds. Khadse, referencing his own past resignation from a ministerial post without a court order, advised Kokate to follow his example.
Governing NCP's Cautious Stance
In contrast to the opposition's forceful demands, the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), to which Kokate belongs, adopted a more measured approach. State NCP president Sunil Tatkare mentioned he learned of the conviction late in the day due to Lok Sabha proceedings and clarified that it was an old case. He said he would discuss the matter in person with party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar before deciding the party's next steps.
This conviction comes at a politically sensitive time, just a day after the announcement of elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. However, senior NCP politicians downplayed the potential impact on their campaign. They argued that since Kokate hails from Sinnar in rural Nashik, the party would not be significantly weakened in the upcoming urban civic polls. Tatkare also expressed confidence that the ruling would not damage the party's image ahead of these crucial local elections.
A History of Controversy
This is not the first time Kokate has faced political turbulence in connection with this case. He was initially convicted by a trial court in February of this year, which also led to opposition calls for his resignation that he resisted. His tenure has been further marred by controversy, including a row over a purported video that allegedly showed him playing online rummy inside the state legislature. Following that incident, his portfolio was changed from Agriculture to Sports.
The conviction now places significant pressure on the state government and the NCP leadership to take a definitive stand, balancing legal propriety with political calculations in the midst of an election season.
