Mahayuti leaders rush to Goa and Kolhapur ahead of Gokul chairman poll as quorum doubt persists

Efforts to poach directors have gathered pace ahead of the election of the chairman of the Gokul milk union. Though the Maha Vikas Aghadi won the board election, the Mahayuti, which is in power in the state, has begun efforts to install its own chairman.

Mahayuti leaders flew in a special aircraft to Goa to meet the Mahayuti directors who are on a trip there. After meeting the directors, they came straight to Kolhapur. What instructions the leaders gave the Gokul directors is now the subject of much talk. The leaders included Guardian Minister Prakash Abitkar, MLAs Vinay Kore and Chandradeep Narke, and former MP Sanjay Mandlik. Meanwhile, the decision on the Gokul chairman's election is to be announced at a press conference.

In the Gokul election, the Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samvichari Aghadi of MLA Satej Patil won 13 of 25 seats and established clear dominance. However, a quorum of 14 directors is required for the election of the chairman. That means that despite winning 13 seats, the quorum requirement must be met for the election to be held as per the rules. There is therefore talk of whether the election will get entangled in the rules. Whether the Mahayuti directors will attend or stay away from the election on Thursday (October 29) has also become a matter of discussion.

If the Mahayuti skips the meeting, the deadlock over the Gokul chairmanship is likely to continue. A decision will also be taken on whether to attend the election. Satej Patil, leader of the ruling alliance, has spoken to Mahayuti leaders over the phone, but has not yet met them in person.

While the Gokul chairmanship is being debated, the politics of the district bank election is also playing out behind the selection. Given the blow the Mahayuti has suffered, there is talk that the Kolhapur District Central Cooperative Bank election will also be held unopposed, on the lines of the Sangli district bank. In Kolhapur's political circles, it is also being said that to balance the equations in the district bank and keep its dominance, Mushrif will not obstruct the Gokul chairmanship election in any way and will clear the path in the district bank.

All eyes are on Thursday's election. With a quorum of 14 directors needed despite the win of 13 of 25 seats, what happens next depends on what the Mahayuti directors do. What decision is announced at the press conference remains to be seen.