Minister Kokate visits Shani temple, prays for `problems' to end

Beleaguered Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate on Saturday visited a Shani temple here and offered prayers. ''I prayed to Shani Maharaj to end drought and bad luck, and bestow good days on everyone. I also prayed that if there are problems in the lives of people like me, they should also end,'' said the Nationalist Congress Party leader.

The minister is under fire after a video showed him playing online rummy on mobile phone in the state legislature. Kokate had earlier faced flak over remarks `insulting' farmers. Speculation is rife that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would soon carry out a cabinet reshuffle and drop some of the controversial ministers.

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