There have been several cases of public representatives, including MLAs and Ministers getting caught sleeping or getting on their phones while taking part in assembly sessions or legislative meetings.
One such incident happened in Maharashtra assembly earlier, and it resulted in the immediate transfer of a cabinet minister.
Incidentally, Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate faced the axe after he was convicted of playing rummy game on his mobile phone in the Assembly.
The picture of the MLA playing the rummy game on his phone went viral on social media, and there was a lot of pressure on the government to suspend him. In tune, with this, the Maharashtra government took a significant decision as they transferred him out of the agricultural ministry department.
It was communicated that ManikRao has been removed as the agriculture minister and has been handed over sports ministry. Though he did not get suspended as feared, it is a significant downgrade to go from agricultural minister to sports minister.
In his defence, the minister said he had been looking at his phone for new update, and this was when a rummy ad popped up and eventually this was recorded. He denied the allegations of him playing the game in the assembly, but the damage had been done as he has been relegated from agriculture ministry to sports ministry.
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