Raj Thackeray questions BJP's 'Save Democracy' march while in power, citing Gokul dairy row

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nationwide "Save Democracy" march. Following the latest dispute at the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, known as Gokul Dairy, he asked how far the ruling party respects democratic principles.

Thackeray alleged that the BJP is staging protests in the name of defending democracy while trying, through government decisions, to influence the outcome of local cooperative elections. He referred to the recent board election at Gokul Dairy, in which the panel backed by Congress leader Satej Patil won 13 of 25 seats, while the panel backed by the Mahayuti won 12.

In his statement, Thackeray asked why a party that is in power at several levels is holding a march against the opposition in the name of saving democracy. He said: "The BJP is truly a strange party. Despite being in power from top to bottom, it is holding a march to 'save democracy'. This may be the only example in the world where a ruling party marches against the opposition."

Taking a dig at the campaign, he compared the BJP's appeal to "the mascot on KFC's famous logo campaigning to save chickens". He also alleged that the BJP is behaving like an opposition party even after more than ten years in power.

Citing the Gokul result, Thackeray also questioned the government decision that changed the rules on appointments to cooperative bodies. The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved an amendment under which the government can nominate five members to the boards of cooperatives with annual turnover above Rs 500 crore. Four of them will have voting rights, while the fifth will be a government representative without a vote.

Thackeray questioned the timing of the decision and alleged that it could dilute the mandate of Gokul's elected directors. He said: "If you are so keen to protect the roots of democracy, why did the Maharashtra government appoint 5 directors and give them voting rights in Gokul's case, immediately after your BJP panel's 12 members lost and the 13 members of Satyajit Patil's panel were elected? What exactly are you trying to prove?" He alleged that after the Mahayuti-backed panel failed to win a majority, the government is trying to take over the dairy through administrative interference.

He also took on the BJP over governance. Thackeray said: "Right now in Maharashtra, a severe drought of water and a severe drought of sense in the BJP are both going on together. It is surprising how this can happen!" He alleged that the BJP stages protests to divert attention from its government's failures, and cited campaigns run on terrorism and the economy as examples.

Thackeray told the ruling party to accept electoral setbacks and not try to portray itself as a victim. His words were: "The BJP should stop its game of gathering sympathy. By whatever route you gained that majority, all the opposition parties have endured it for 12 years. Now, if the people of this country have begun leaning towards the opposition parties, the BJP too should learn to tolerate it."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Satej Patil has announced a protest march in Kolhapur on November 9. The march will start at Dasara Chowk and go to the District Collector's office. Patil alleged that although his panel won the election, the government decision to appoint nominated directors is an attempt to take over Gokul. He also said his side will continue to challenge the decision in court.

State minister Hasan Mushrif defended the government's move. According to him, the decision was taken to end the deadlock over the election of the chairman and to avoid the appointment of an administrator. Mushrif said Gokul's bylaws require a quorum of 14 directors to elect a chairman. Twelve directors from the Mahayuti-backed panel did not attend the last meeting, so the quorum could not be met.

Mushrif said that if the meeting could not be held repeatedly, an administrator might have to be installed and fresh elections might have to be held. He said the government stepped in so that the institution remains in the hands of elected representatives rather than an administrator.