Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Kokate Steps Down After Court Issues Arrest Warrant; Portfolio Shifted To Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s political landscape saw sudden movement on Wednesday evening after Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Manikrao Kokate resigned from the state Cabinet following an arrest warrant issued against him by a court in Nashik. The development has intensified both the legal and political pressure on the senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader.

Soon after the court order, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recommended changes in the Cabinet, leading to swift administrative action. Governor Acharya Devvrat accepted the proposal to transfer the Sports and Youth Affairs portfolio to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. With this decision, Kokate ceased to hold any ministerial responsibility.

Sources said the Chief Minister also held discussions with Ajit Pawar regarding the next steps, including the possibility of inducting a new minister to fill the vacancy created by Kokate’s exit. The move has fuelled speculation about a potential Cabinet reshuffle in the coming days, as the ruling alliance works to contain the fallout.

Manikrao Kokate’s resignation follows his conviction in a long-pending criminal case dating back to 1995. A Nashik court found him guilty in a cheating and forgery matter related to the alleged illegal allotment of flats under a state government housing scheme. The court sentenced him to two years of imprisonment, a verdict that triggered immediate political consequences.

Earlier in the day, Kokate approached the Bombay High Court, challenging the sessions court order that upheld his conviction and sentence. Legal experts note that while appeals are a common step in such cases, the arrest warrant significantly escalated the situation, leaving little room for political manoeuvring.

Within the NCP, reactions have been measured. Party state president Sunil Tatkare said in New Delhi that the matter would be discussed internally and confirmed that he would meet Ajit Pawar in Mumbai to review the political and legal implications. Emphasising respect for the judicial process, Tatkare said the party would act in accordance with the law and constitutional principles.