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Elections to Maharashtra’s largest cooperative dairy, the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Gokul Dairy), have emerged as a major political contest, with ruling alliance Mahayuti joining forces to challenge Congress leader Satej Patil in a battle for control of one of the state’s most influential cooperative institutions.
Established on March 16, 1963, Gokul Dairy is a cornerstone of the rural economy in western Maharashtra, with a turnover of ₹3,966.28 crore in 2024-25, a network of 4.41 lakh milk producers, and milk collection through 8,009 village-level primary societies across 1,810 villages.
The upcoming polls come amid shifting political alliances and legal developments. In 2021, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), led by Satej Patil and Hasan Mushrif, took control of Gokul, ending a 30-year dominance of earlier leadership. However, subsequent political realignments in Maharashtra altered cooperative equations, setting the stage for a fresh electoral showdown.
The election process has also been influenced by court intervention. Following the expiry of the previous board’s term, an administrative board was appointed on May 5, 2026, while the courts directed scrutiny of 1,320 primary milk societies before elections are conducted. Authorities have been instructed to complete the process and hold polls within the stipulated timeframe.
Industry observers note that control of Gokul extends beyond dairy operations. The cooperative plays a critical role in milk procurement, processing, animal health and rural livelihoods, making it one of the most economically and politically significant institutions in Maharashtra’s cooperative sector. (The Indian Express)
Source: Dairynews7x7 2, June 2026 Read full story here
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