Gokul chairman poll row reaches Delhi; Bawankule responds to Rahul Gandhi's charges

Politics has heated up in Kolhapur over the election of the Gokul chairman. Thirteen directors were elected, yet the chairman's post did not go to the alliance of like-minded parties led by Satej Patil. The government has also appointed four government-nominated directors to Gokul. The matter of government interference has now reached Delhi. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi levelled serious allegations against the ruling side over vote theft, and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has given a strong reply.

Bawankule said, "Considering the Gokul decision and the demand, Cooperation Minister and guardian minister Hasan Mushrif may have taken this decision so that there is coordination between the government and the elected committee for the state government's supporting work, the help given to Gokul and the cooperation to be received from the state government."

Speaking of the BJP's Save Democracy rally (Loktantra Bachao Yatra) in Nagpur, Bawankule said, "This rally has been organised to foil the conspiracy of Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc and to make people aware. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and thousands of citizens will attend the rally. A firm reply will be given to Rahul Gandhi."

Rahul Gandhi alleged that milk producers defeated the BJP in Gokul, after which the BJP changed the election rules. According to him, four government-nominated directors were pushed in and the number of directors was raised from 12 to 16, allegedly stealing the majority. He said this was a theft from milk producers and that the BJP had adulterated the mandate. He asked why the BJP was so desperate and said they were going to any length to save their power. Milk producers should remember those who stole their votes, he said; the farmer does not forget.

Rohit Pawar said, "The people's verdict given by five and a half lakh members in the Gokul election, being set aside to take over Gokul by appointing government members, can only be called 'vinashkale viparit buddhi' (when doom approaches, the mind turns perverse). If the ego has been hurt because they could not stay in Kolhapur on result day and hold a procession, will the people's verdict be tampered with by appointing government members? This government decision is anarchy. The Gokul issue is not limited to Bunty Patil and Kolhapur; it concerns everyone who believes in democracy and the Constitution. A game of dishonesty was played in Gokul today; they will play it tomorrow too if they lose the Lok Sabha election. Such venomous snakes must therefore be crushed now. On the day the chairman is elected, all citizens who love democracy and the Constitution should gherao Gokul and show the strength of public opinion from Mumbai to Delhi. All of Maharashtra stands firmly with Gokul's members and Bunty Patil."