BJP attempts to retain Gokul Dairy control despite poll defeat: Abhijeet Dipke

Cockroach Janta Party convener Abhijeet Dipke has accused the BJP of attempting to retain control of Gokul milk cooperative despite losing the October elections. His allegation follows Maharashtra's decision to appoint government-nominated members to cooperative managing committees

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Cockroach Janta Party convener Abhijeet Dipke on Monday accused the BJP of attempting a “hostile takeover” of the Gokul milk cooperative by appointing four members to retain control despite losing the elections.

In a video message posted on social media, Dipke alleged that the ruling party was acting against constitutional norms to bypass the mandate of the milk cooperative’s elections.

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The Maharashtra Cabinet last week approved the appointment of five government-nominated members to the managing committees of cooperative institutions with an annual turnover of more than Rs 500 crore, excluding district central cooperative banks. Four of the members will be entitled to vote on the board of directors.

The Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samvichari Aghadi, led by Congress MLC Satej Patil, won 13 of the 25 seats in the October 19 elections to the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, popularly known as Gokul, while the Mahayuti-backed panel won 12. Leaders of the BJP-led ruling alliance had campaigned together to secure control of the institution, which has an annual turnover of more than Rs 4,000 crore.

“Earlier, we have seen that the Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) dubbed agitators as anarchist and unconstitutional elements, especially the CJP. But in the case of Gokul, we see that the BJP has appointed four members and is attempting a hostile takeover so that it remains in control despite losing the elections,” Dipke said.

He claimed that unconstitutional efforts were being made to seize control of the cooperative.

“If they (BJP) can go to such lengths in a milk union election, to what extent would they go to steal the mandate with the help of (Chief Election Commissioner) Gyanesh Kumar?” he remarked.

Dipke commended local dairy farmers for taking to the streets to protest against the government ordinance, which boosts the ruling Mahayuti’s strength from 12 to 16, altering the balance of power in the cooperative.