Mushrif says he spoke in anger over Gokul chairman poll; Satej Patil welcomes remark

The heated politics and controversy in Kolhapur over the election of the Gokul chairman may now cool down. Minister Hasan Mushrif said at a press conference on Thursday that he had spoken in anger at his meeting and that it was a mistake. According to him, the Gokul issue is now over from his side.

Mushrif also appealed to the media. He said the Gokul matter had been spread across the world for a month and a half and should now be given a rest. In this way, if only indirectly, he spoke of ending the exchange of charges and counter-charges.

Satej Patil responded positively to the appeal. He said he welcomed the statement.

Patil said language such as "we will bring an administrator and send you home" had been used. According to him, the ordinance concerning Gokul was used to show that power could be used in any manner, and Maharashtra saw this. He said some statements were also made later at the meeting held at the time of the election of the unauthorised chairman.

Patil said Chandrakant Patil had said something to the effect that the government machinery would be used to ruin them. He asked since when this kind of language had begun in Maharashtra. Satej Patil also said that the statement Chandrakant Patil made about the late D. Y. Patil was not liked by any sensible citizen of Maharashtra. According to him, D. Y. Patil had close relations with many people, and Chandrakant Patil's statement was like losing one's balance.

According to Satej Patil, after sharp reactions from all sides, Hasan Mushrif showed good sense and said the subject should not have been raised. Patil said he welcomed this.

Satej Patil also recounted an incident from the day of counting of votes in the Gokul election. He said that when the counting was not getting completed, he received a phone call from Sharad Pawar at four or five o'clock. At that time he was travelling to the counting centre on a motorcycle. Patil said perhaps someone had told Pawar, or he had seen it himself.

According to Satej Patil, when Pawar asked what was going on, he replied that things were a bit off, sir. Pawar gave him just one piece of advice: not to leave the counting centre until the count was done, the full result was in hand and the certificate had been received.