Mushrif hints at larger share of seats in Mahayuti panel for Gokul dairy poll, says NCP always been elder brother in cooperatives

Kolhapur: Medical education minister and senior NCP member Hasan Mushrif on Thursday claimed to have the support of 1,971 primary milk societies, each entitled to one vote, to elect directors of the Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh, popularly known as Gokul Dairy.These societies have submitted resolutions authorising representatives, called ‘Tharav Dharak', to vote on their behalf. With 1,971 resolutions filed of around 4,500 eligible societies, Mushrif has demonstrated NCP’s dominant position within Mahayuti. “NCP has always been the elder brother in the cooperative sector. We will contest the poll together as Mahayuti, and seat-sharing will be finalised after the election authorities approve the voters’ list,” the minister said.Over the last few months, Mushrif has faced allegations of corruption and nepotism from BJP members, including Chandgad MLA Shivaji Patil and Mahadev Belawade, who has also approached courts, challenging the eligibility of over 1,300 societies. The matter is currently under judicial review.State govt has assured the Supreme Court that Gokul Dairy election will be conducted within 90 days. Following this, election authorities directed primary milk societies to submit resolutions authorising their voting representatives.

Mushrif announced that these authorised voters would be sent on religious tours, a move aimed at preventing them from switching loyalties.During the previous election, Mushrif had contested alongside Congress MLC Satej Patil, members from the undivided Shiv Sena and the Jansurajya Shakti Party. This time, however, under the guidance of senior members, the decision has been taken to contest as part of Mahayuti. As a result, Patil has formed a separate panel, named ‘Shahu Samvichari Panel’.At Gokul Dairy’s administrative office in Tarabai Park, a poster put up by Satej Patil highlighted achievements during the last five years, including higher milk procurement prices benefiting farmers. Through this, Patil has appealed to the voters to support his panel to “save Gokul”.Mushrif, however, credited the dairy’s progress over the past five years to Mahayuti, pointing out that all recent chairpersons were affiliated with alliance parties — Vishwas Abaji Patil (Shiv Sena), Arun Dongale (NCP) and his son Naved Mushrif (NCP). “Under their leadership, Gokul Dairy expanded operations, set up a solar plant in Solapur, upgraded facilities in Pune and increased procurement prices, thereby providing financial relief to farmers,” Mushrif added.