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Minister caught in Maha rummy row moved out of agri ministry, given sports

The New Indian Express Kochi

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August 01, 2025

After days of speculation, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, who has been embroiled in controversy since he was caught playing an online rummy game in the state Legislative Council, has lost his portfolio and been reassigned the sports and youth welfare ministry.

- SUDHIR SURAYWANSHI @ Mumbai

A notification issued by the General Administration Department late on Thursday night stated that the current sports minister, Dattatrey Bharne, will take over as the agriculture minister, while Kokate will be the new sports and youth welfare minister.

Notably, both leaders belong to the Deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Bharne happens to be a close aide of Ajit Pawar.

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