The opposition in Maharashtra launched a fierce attack on the ruling Mahayuti government on Wednesday night, demanding the immediate disqualification of convicted minister Manikrao Kokate. This demand came swiftly after the government decided to merely strip him of his sports portfolio and allocate it to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Opposition Cites Precedent, Questions Government's Intent
Leading the charge, former leader of the opposition in the legislative council, Ambadas Danve, drew a sharp comparison with recent cases involving opposition leaders. He pointed out that Congress members Rahul Gandhi and Sunil Kedar were removed from their posts within a day of their conviction. "When a person in a constitutional post is convicted by a court, he should be immediately disqualified," Danve asserted. He accused the Mahayuti government of protecting Kokate by only taking away his ministry.
Danve clarified that the path for reinstatement remains open if the higher court rules in Kokate's favour. "Kokate should be disqualified with immediate effect. He has the option to go to the higher court, and if the court gives a verdict in his favour, he can be reinstated in the cabinet," he stated, framing it as a matter of constitutional propriety rather than a final judgment.
The Conviction and the Government's Response
The political storm was triggered by a dramatic legal development. On Tuesday, a sessions court in Nashik upheld a trial court's judgment convicting Kokate and his brother. The case pertained to illegally securing two flats under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota back in 1995. The court sentenced them to two years of rigorous imprisonment and issued an arrest warrant against the minister.
Following the conviction, Kokate was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after complaining of chest pain. Later on Wednesday, the government announced its decision to reallocate his sports portfolio to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is also the chief of Kokate's party, the NCP. This move, rather than quelling the controversy, ignited it further.
Moral Grounds and Mounting Pressure
The government's decision drew sharp criticism from across the opposition aisle. Senior NCP (SP) leader and former state home minister Anil Deshmukh cited his own example to highlight the expected moral standard. Deshmukh reminded everyone that he had resigned from his post in 2020 when allegations were made against him, even though there was no court verdict at the time.
"After baseless allegations were made against me, I resigned on moral grounds for a transparent investigation," Deshmukh said. "Kokate has been convicted by the court. Now the chief minister and his party chief has to take a call on his removal." This statement directly challenges Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to take a definitive stand, increasing the political pressure on the ruling alliance.
The opposition's unified demand has put the Mahayuti government in a tight spot, forcing it to defend its decision against charges of applying different standards to its own members versus those in the opposition. The coming days will reveal whether the government sticks to its current position or succumbs to the pressure for Kokate's disqualification.
