Gokul chairperson poll: returning officer Mausami Barde-Chougule transferred on promotion

The state government has promoted and transferred Mausami Barde-Chougule, the election decision officer and sub-divisional magistrate, in the midst of the election process for the chairperson's post of the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, known as the Gokul milk union. The union's recent election has already seen several unexpected turns. Minister Hasan Mushrif's panel suffered a heavy defeat because of a move by Congress leader Satej Patil, and the matter has not settled since.

The state government has temporarily appointed Ms Chougule as Additional Collector (Group A). She has been posted as Joint Commissioner (Rehabilitation) in the divisional commissioner's office in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The government order was issued on October 31 on the recommendation of the establishment board of the General Administration Department.

Ms Chougule is reportedly working on a post notified for elections, so she will not be able to take charge of the new post immediately. She will have to continue in her current post in Kolhapur until the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is completed. She can join in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar only after Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer officially announces that the process is complete. With the chairperson's election at a crucial stage, the decision has set off much discussion in political and cooperative circles.

The matter over the chairperson's election has reached court. In the union's results, the Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samvichari Aghadi won 13 seats, while the Mahayuti won 12. At the meeting called to elect the chairperson, the required quorum of 14 directors was not met, so the election could not be held.

The 13 directors of the Samvichari alliance then filed a petition in the Kolhapur circuit bench of the Bombay High Court. The alliance claims that the presence of 14 directors is not necessary to elect the chairperson. At the first meeting held after the hearing too, the Mahayuti's 12 directors did not attend. The court has issued a notice to these 12 directors. The petition names these directors as respondents along with the state government.

After the hearing at the Kolhapur circuit bench, the Mahayuti made its stand clear. Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif have said they will be present at the next meeting for the chairperson's election. While the court battle goes on, the election decision officer has been transferred. The cooperative sector is now watching when the chairperson will finally be elected and what turn the process takes next.