Rummy Row: Violent Clash Erupts Between NCP, Chhava Workers In Latur Over Manikrao Kokate Resignation Demand

Latur (Maharashtra), July 20: In a shocking incident, a video has surfaced on social media in which the workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Chhava Sanghatna got involved in violent clash in Maharashtra's Latur district. The massive brawl erupted over the Chhava members demanding resignation of Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate for allegedly playing Junglee Rummy inside the Legislative Assembly. The minister's video was shared by Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on social media.

The altercation occurred shortly after NCP MP Sunil Tatkare finished addressing a party workers' meeting and press conference in Latur. As Tatkare concluded the event, a group of Chhava Sanghatna members, including their state president Vijay Ghatge, arrived at the venue to submit a memorandum. They were protesting against the minister caught playing rummy during the Assembly session and stated that any minister who plays card games in the Assembly has no right to remain in office.

To make their point, some Chhava members symbolically threw playing cards in front of Tatkare, expressing public anger and frustration over the minister’s alleged conduct.

The protest quickly turned violent when NCP youth wing state president Suraj Chavan, reportedly a close aide of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, assaulted Chhava activists, including Vijay Ghatge. The video shows Suraj Chavan using his elbow and fists to beat the Chhava workers, while other NCP supporters also joined in the attack.

The incident sparked outrage across political circles and social media. NCP (SP) leader Rohini Eknathrao Khadse shared the video on her social media and said, “It’s now impossible to imagine what one will witness in Maharashtra... After MP Sunil Tatkare’s press conference, Chhava officials questioned the Agriculture Minister. But Ajit Dada’s workers brutally beat them up. This was never seen before in Maharashtra. I fear people from other states may say they don’t want a ‘Maharashtra-like’ situation in their own.”

Rohit Pawar also reacted to the incident and said, "While farmers in the state are in immense distress, if the state’s agriculture minister is throwing rummy cards in the assembly, public outrage is bound to erupt. The controversy that arose while #Chhava organization activists were presenting a memorandum to Tatkare Saheb in Latur on this issue is unfortunate. Throwing cards at Tatkare Saheb in this manner is indeed wrong, but the subsequent assault on the Chhava organization activists is even more wrong. Are the ruling authorities trying to send a message that if people raise questions, we will beat them, attack them, and crush the opposition?"

There are no reports of any police action in connection with the matter so far. However, the video of the incident is being widely shared on social media and the political leaders and the internet users are demanding strict action in connection with the matter.