The Maharashtra government’s decision to appoint five directors to the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, popularly known as Gokul, has triggered a political controversy. Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Satej Patil has alleged that the move is aimed at taking control of the milk union and eventually handing it over to Amul.
The Gokul election saw the Congress-backed panel win 13 of 25 director seats, while the Mahayuti-backed panel emerged victorious in 12.
The state cabinet approved the proposal to appoint the directors, four of whom will have voting rights, on Wednesday. The decision comes shortly after the Gokul election, in which the Mahayuti-backed panel failed to secure a majority, and Patil has alleged that the government’s move is an attempt to overturn the mandate of the elected directors. “There is a conspiracy to sell Gokul to Amul.
The Gokul election saw the Congress-backed panel led by Patil win 13 of the 25 director seats, while the Mahayuti-backed panel emerged victorious in 12. Patil announced a protest march in Kolhapur on November 9 and said that the Congress would challenge the decision in court.
Despite our panel winning the highest number of director seats, the government is trying to steal our votes,” Patil said. Defending the decision, Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif said the new provision does not mean political leaders or their relatives will be appointed as directors.
