3 min readMumbaiUpdated: Dec 19, 2025 04:40 AM IST
Manikrao Kokate was earlier with the undivided Shiv Sena, before joining the Congress and eventually Ajit Pawar’s NCP during the party’s split in 2023. (File Photo)
A day after Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate was stripped of his portfolios of Sports and Minority Affairs, his resignation from the Cabinet was accepted Thursday.
The development comes two days after the Nashik district and sessions court upheld the order of a first-class judicial magistrate, confirming a sentence of two-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 against Kokate in the cheating and forgery case linked to a government housing scheme in 1995. In a letter, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to accept the resignation tendered by Kokate.
“Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and my party colleague Shri Manikrao Kokate has submitted his resignation to me following the outcome of the Hon’ble Court’s verdict. In keeping with our party’s long-standing philosophy that the rule of law is supreme and above all individuals, the resignation has been accepted in principle. I have forwarded Shri Kokate’s resignation to the Hon’ble CM for due consideration and acceptance, in accordance with constitutional procedure,” Pawar said in the statement.
“Our party has always believed that public life must be guided by constitutional morality, institutional integrity, and respect for the judiciary. We stand firmly by the rule of law and will continue to act in a manner that upholds democratic values and public trust,” he said. Earlier this year, another NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde had to resign after his aide Walmik Karad was allegedly linked to the murder of Beed district’s Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
The development regarding Kokate comes two days after the Nashik sessions court convicted him and awarded him two years’ imprisonment for tampering with documents to acquire a government flat.
Throughout Wednesday, Kokate was unavailable for comment as he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital due to ill health, while NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, were busy with meetings. Kokate has even approached the Bombay High Court, challenging the verdict.
Kokate, an MLA from Sinnar constituency in Nashik district, was convicted in connection with a 1995 case pertaining to the illegal acquisition of flats under the Chief Minister’s discretionary quota. His criminal revision application was mentioned before a single-judge bench of Justice Rajesh N Laddha in the post-lunch session Wednesday.
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In August 2024, Kokate was removed from his earlier portfolio of Agriculture after he was allegedly photographed playing cards on mobile. He was later reinstated as the Sports and Minority Affairs minister while the Agriculture portfolio was given to Pawar confidante Dattatray Bharne.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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