Political showdown rocks Maharashtra milk cooperative election

Voting takes place today to choose a new chairperson for the Gokul Cooperative Milk Federation in Maharashtra amid a bitter street fight and a court battle.

The Dispute

The Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh Ltd, better known as Gokul, is one of the largest and most influential dairy cooperatives in the state. The recent election for director positions resulted in a wafer-thin victory for the Congress-led panel, which won 13 out of 25 seats against the opposition's 12 seats. Following this result, the BJP-led state government issued an order to appoint five new nominated directors, with four of them granted voting rights. This move sparked a massive backlash because it tilts the majority toward the ruling alliance even though they failed to win a majority through the democratic election.

Context

Established on March 16, 1963, under the Operation Flood project, Gokul is a major political and economic power in western Maharashtra. Dairy cooperatives hold immense influence over the politics of the state, making cooperative elections fiercely contested battlegrounds for major political parties.