Governor clears ordinance for four voting government directors on Gokul board; Satej Patil calls rally

The struggle for control of the Gokul milk union in Kolhapur district has reached a crucial point. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Friday approved an ordinance under which four expert directors will be appointed to Gokul by the government. The ordinance also gives these directors the right to vote.

In Gokul's 25-member board of directors, the Samvichari Aghadi led by Satej Patil won 13 seats, while the Mahayuti won 12. After this result, the Mahayuti government decided to appoint five directors to Gokul from the government's side. One of the five will be a government officer of the rank of assistant registrar, while the other four are expected to have experience in running cooperative institutions. The four expert directors have voting rights, but the government officer cannot vote.

The decision has created a major challenge for Patil. It also opens the possibility of the Mahayuti joining in forming the Gokul leadership. The votes of the four appointed directors could change the power equation, and the Mahayuti, which won 12 seats in the election, could gain additional strength on the board. Political activity is therefore likely to intensify even before the election of the chairperson.

After the Governor's approval, Patil took a sharp stand. From his official X account, he appealed to the people of Kolhapur to join a movement against the arbitrary conduct in Gokul. Patil, who is also known as Bunty Patil, asked: "You could not win the trust of the people of Kolhapur! Then why do you trample the mandate of the members by installing your own people in Gokul under cover of an ordinance?"

Patil also said, "Giving voting rights to the four appointed members is a government robbery of the members' mandate and an insult to Kolhapur's self-respect! The sweat is our milk producers', the institution is our members', and the orders are yours? Gokul is not your fiefdom." He warned that Kolhapur does not compromise on its self-respect, that it knocks the arrogance out of those who show it, and that it only waits for its time to come.

Calling on the people of Kolhapur, Patil has appealed for a protest at Dasara Chowk on November 9. He wrote, "Now you will have to come! Kolhapur's Sangharsh Morcha, November 9, 10 am, Dasara Chowk." He has asked people to gather against the malpractice in Gokul.

After the ordinance was approved, five government members have been appointed. The names include Shoumika Mahadik, Navid Mushrif and Ashok Farakate. An officer of assistant registrar rank and one other member are also on the list. Navid Mushrif had lost in this election, yet his name is among these members.