Rajesh Patil elected Gokul chairman as artists spar on social media over the vote

The election of the Gokul milk union and its chairman has been much discussed in Maharashtra for the past few days. The alliance led by Congress leader Satej Patil had won 13 of 25 seats and secured a majority. But the quorum of 14 directors needed to elect the chairman could not be met, which gave the election a new turn.

The deadlock, which had postponed the chairman's election meeting for want of a quorum, broke after 15 days. The Mahayuti staked a claim to the chairmanship, and Nationalist Congress Party former MLA Rajesh Patil was elected Gokul chairman. The meeting was held today, November 10, under returning officer Mosami Chougule.

The contest was between two candidates. Shashikant Patil-Chuyekar was in the fray for Satej Patil's Rajarshi Shahu Kisan Samvichari alliance. Nationalist Congress Party former MLA Rajesh Patil stood for the Mahayuti-backed Chhatrapati Shahu Kisan Vikas alliance. Rajesh Patil won. The 25 elected directors voted, along with 4 directors appointed by the government.

Satej Patil had thrown gulal on the day the results were declared, but the joy of that win lasted only a few days. Gokul is now being talked about everywhere, and the discussion has reached artists too.

Artist Rajkumar Tangde put up a Facebook post about Gokul. Actor Ramesh Pardeshi, known as Pityabhai from the film Mulshi Pattern, asked in a comment: "Does your milk go to Gokul too?" Tangde replied: "My livelihood runs on farming, and I know how to milk a cow too, Rameshrao."

Pardeshi wrote again: "We are farmers too and act part-time. We have 10cows, and along with milking we have modern machinery too."

Tangde's original post was humorous and also carried criticism. In its last part he wrote that people could now call it the murder of democracy and flail about in court, and until then he would eat Gokul's ball of butter. Pardeshi then asked a pointed question, and the exchange between the two artists is now continuing over the Gokul election. Tangde is also active in the film field and is seen making content and short films for YouTube.