Cabinet lets govt name 5 directors to big cooperative federations; Gokul losers may return

Mumbai: The Gokul election was watched across the state. The alliance led by Congress leader Satej Patil won 13 seats, while the alliance of Minister Hasan Mushrif, who was fighting under the BJP-led Mahayuti, got 12. Hasan Mushrif's son Navid Mushrif and Shaumika Mahadik, wife of MLA Amal Mahadik, lost in that election. A new state government decision on cooperatives is now said to make it likely that both will become Gokul directors after all.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's Cabinet today took an important decision concerning cooperatives. Under it, the boards of the state's cooperative federations with annual turnover above Rs 500 crore will have five members nominated by the government. One will be an official not below the rank of assistant registrar, and four will be people with experience of the institution's work. The government official will have no voting right. The other four will have voting rights on the board of directors, but they will not be able to contest elections for office-bearer posts of the institution.

The reform will not apply to district central cooperative banks. The rule has been framed by approving a new proviso to the proviso to Section 73 AAA (2) of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960. This makes the election of the Gokul milk union's chairman especially significant, because once the government's five members are appointed, the BJP-led alliance could get a chance at the chairman's post. Navid Mushrif and Shaumika Mahadik are said to have a strong chance of being among the government-nominated members.

The names under discussion include Hasan Mushrif's son Navid Mushrif, former director Shaumika Mahadik, A.Y. Patil and Ashok Pharakate. After these names surfaced, resentment has emerged among allied parties, which have conveyed it to district leaders. These parties had been assured in the Mahayuti that they would get a chance among the government-nominated members. But with leaders' own children now getting the places, these allies will be left empty-handed. Once the Governor issues an ordinance, the way will open for appointing the new directors.

Satej, also known as Bunty, Patil reacted angrily to the decision. He said they would take every legal route available and would not stay silent. According to him, 5.5 lakh farmers have given this mandate. He said that if the people's mandate is being rejected, he is also prepared to take to the streets.

Under the existing law, the board of a cooperative institution can have 2 directors elected by the institution and 2 directors nominated by the government. This arrangement suits medium and small institutions. But federations with annual turnover above Rs 500 crore handle large public funds and business responsibilities. If the number of board members becomes equal or the quorum for a meeting is not met, confusion results. The registrar is then forced to appoint an authorised officer over the institution, which badly affects its financial and other work. So that a shortfall of quorum does not force the appointment of an authorised officer, and so that management stays with the board elected by members, the government will appoint 5 directors. Except for the government official, the other members will be given voting rights at board meetings.