The election of the new chairman for the Kolhapur-headquartered Gokul dairy has triggered a significant political and legal dispute in Maharashtra. On November 10, Rajesh Patil of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance was elected chairman of the dairy cooperative, defeating the rival candidate, Shashikant Patil Chuyekar, by 16 votes to 13. The outcome followed a series of contentious events involving board selections and a recent state government ordinance.
In the initial board elections held on October 19, a panel led by Congress MLC Satej Patil won 13 of the 25 director seats, while the Mahayuti-backed panel secured 12. A deadlock ensued during the selection of the chairperson, as the Mahayuti members remained absent, preventing the required quorum. The Satej Patil-allied panel then held a separate meeting to declare Chuyekar the chairman, a move the Gokul administration refused to recognise. The matter was subsequently brought before the Bombay High Court.
On November 6, the state government issued an ordinance amending Section 73AAA of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960. The amendment allowed the government to nominate five directors to cooperatives with annual turnovers exceeding Rs 500 crore, with four of these appointees granted voting rights for the selection of office-bearers. This authority was previously prohibited under the Act. Opponents of the move have challenged the ordinance in court, arguing it represents a “colourable exercise of powers” and changes the rules after the election process had already commenced.
The state government has defended the ordinance, asserting that it is not selective and applies to four cooperative societies across the state. Counsel for the state argued that the government is not an outsider to these institutions and that the legislation should not be stayed as no irreparable loss would occur. On November 10, the Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur bench declined to stay the government’s decision to grant voting rights to the nominated directors. The court is scheduled to hear the case again on November 25.
Key facts
- Gokul dairy has an annual turnover of nearly Rs 4,000 crore and serves 4.41 lakh milk producers.
- The cooperative operates across an estimated 1,810 villages in the Kolhapur district.
- In the October 19 board election, the Satej Patil-led panel won 13 seats, while the Mahayuti panel won 12.
- The ordinance amends Section 73AAA of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960.
- The Bombay High Court will next hear the challenge regarding the ordinance on November 25.
Why it matters
Control over Gokul dairy provides political parties with significant influence over rural households and a vast network of farmers in western Maharashtra. For many marginal producers, the cooperative is essential, as they rely on its regular milk payments for their household income.
Background
Gokul dairy stands as a major economic and political institution in western Maharashtra, maintaining a network of over 4.4 lakh producers across the Kolhapur region.
Source: Indian Express
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