NEW DELHI, Nov 5: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised the Maharashtra government over its decision to appoint nominated members to Gokul Dairy, accusing the BJP of undermining the democratic mandate given by milk producers.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged that the move was intended to alter the balance of power within the dairy organisation after the BJP failed to secure a majority in the election.
In a post on X, Gandhi claimed that milk producers had voted against the BJP in the Gokul Dairy election, but the rules were subsequently changed to strengthen the ruling party’s position.
He alleged that the government appointed four additional directors, increasing the number of members supporting the BJP from 12 to 16 and enabling it to secure a majority.
“This is theft of the milk producers’ votes – adulteration in the mandate,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of disregarding the electoral outcome by using government nominations to change the composition of the dairy’s governing body.
Gokul Dairy, formally known as Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh, is an important cooperative institution in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district. It plays a significant role in the region’s dairy sector and is associated with the livelihoods of milk producers.
Gandhi’s remarks have brought the appointment issue into the political spotlight, with the Congress questioning the government’s decision and alleging that it weakens the authority of elected representatives.
The controversy centres on whether government-nominated directors should be allowed to alter the majority established through an election, raising broader questions about democratic representation and the functioning of cooperative institutions.