Gokul Dairy row: Rohit Pawar calls for show of strength over Maharashtra govt's nominated members

NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday urged people who believe in democracy to gather outside Kolhapurrsquos Gokul Dairy during the election of its chairman on November 10 amid a controversy over the Maharashtra governmentrsquos decision to appoint nominated members to the cooperativersquos boardPawar alleged that the governmentrsquos move was an attempt to take control of the dairy despite the mandate of 55 lakh voters who backed a panel supported by Congress leader Satej PatilPawar calls for show of strength during chairmanrsquos electionIn a post on X Pawar called on people who believe in democracy and the Constitution to gather outside Gokul Dairy on the day of the chairmanrsquos electionHe said the demonstration would send a message about the strength of the peoplersquos mandate ldquofrom Mumbai to DelhirdquoThe cooperativersquos chairman is scheduled to be elected on November 10 The post has remained vacant after previous election meetings failed to meet the required quorum of 14 directorsNominated membersrsquo appointment sparks political rowThe Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of five governmentnominated members to the managing committees of cooperative institutions with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 500 crore excluding district central cooperative banksFour of the nominated members will have voting rights on the board of directorsThe decision has raised concerns over the balance of power at Gokul Dairy where the chairmanrsquos election is pendingCongressbacked panel wins 13 of 25 seatsIn the recent elections to the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producersrsquo Union popularly known as Gokul Dairy the Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samavichari Aghadi backed by Congress MLC Satej Patil won 13 of the 25 seatsThe BJPled Mahayutibacked panel secured 12 seatsPawar alleged that the governmentrsquos decision to appoint nominated members was an attempt to overturn the electoral outcome and take control of the cooperativeldquoSetting aside the mandate given by 55 lakh members and appointing governmentnominated members to take control of Gokul can only be described as Vinashkale Viparit Buddhi loss of reason when destruction approachesrdquo he claimedPawar alleges move stems from BJPrsquos lsquobruised egorsquoIn a veiled dig at the BJP Pawar suggested that the decision was driven by the ldquobruised egordquo of those who could not celebrate their victory with a procession in Kolhapur on the day of the election resultsldquoDoes that mean the government will now attempt to manipulate peoples mandate by appointing nominated members This decision amounts to creating anarchyrdquo he allegedPawar also expressed solidarity with Gokul members and Satej Patil whose party is an ally of the NCP SP in the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVAlsquoIssue concerns everyone who believes in democracyrsquoPawar said the Gokul Dairy dispute was not limited to Satej Patil or Kolhapur but concerned everyone who believed in democracy and the ConstitutionldquoIf such unfair tactics are being used in Gokul today similar attempts could be made tomorrow after losing Lok Sabha electionsrdquo he claimedWith inputs from PTI