Cabinet clears four government-appointed voting experts for Gokul; Satej Patil vows to fight

The election of the chairperson of Gokul, the Kolhapur milk union and an important body in the district's cooperative sector, may no longer be decided by the number of directors alone. The state Cabinet has approved a new proposal that could change the arithmetic of the election. The proposal is to appoint four government-nominated expert directors to Gokul and give them voting rights.

First, the election result. The Kolhapur District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union, or Gokul, had 25 seats in the election. The Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samvichari Aghadi won 13 of them. The Mahayuti-led Chhatrapati Shahu Shetkari Vikas Aghadi got 12. The group led by Satej Patil currently has a majority of 13 directors. Even so, the chairperson's election has stalled because the presence of 14 directors is required for the meeting that elects the chairperson.

The proposal approved by the Cabinet applies to cooperative bodies with a turnover of more than Rs 3,000 crore. Government-nominated directors with voting rights will be appointed to such bodies. If four co-opted expert directors come to Gokul, the equation for the chairperson's election could change. Before that, however, the Governor must sign and an ordinance must be issued. It is then to be converted into a Bill in the winter session of the legislature.

Patil expressed strong displeasure at the decision. He warned that he would not stay silent if the mandate given by five and a half lakh farmers was being rejected. He said he would use all legal avenues and made clear that he was ready to take to the streets if necessary.

Patil said the Mahayuti's argument that, despite a full majority, the support of two directors is sought for the quorum is laughable. Taking a dig at this, he said that in the municipal corporation his side is short by five corporators, so the Mahayuti should back them and let them win the mayor's post.

Patil alleged that the government took this decision to answer his pamphlet. He also said a dispute broke out within the Mahayuti over who should sign that pamphlet. He warned that the equations of power will change in 2029 and that everything will be remembered then.

Explaining the importance of a single vote, Patil cited the government of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said the rulers should remember that a government can fall by one vote. He also expressed confidence that all the Mahayuti directors will attend the meeting on the 10th and that Shashikant Patil Chuyekar will become Gokul's chairperson.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has opposed the decision, calling it a stifling of democracy. The cooperative sector in Kolhapur is now watching the next steps on the ordinance, the appointment of the government-nominated directors and the meeting on the 10th.