Rahul Gandhi Accuses Maharashtra Government of Electoral Manipulation in Milk Cooperative

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of attempting to overturn the electoral mandate of the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, known as Gokul Dairy, in Maharashtra. Gandhi claimed the government was changing rules to regain control after the Congress-led Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samavichari Aghadi, led by Satej Patil, won 13 of 25 seats in the October 19 elections. The proposed changes would expand the board by adding four government-nominated directors with voting rights, potentially altering the majority.

The dispute centers on the control of a major dairy cooperative in Maharashtra. Gandhi described the government's move as the “theft of milk producers’ votes”. This political challenge directly questions the legitimacy of the government's attempts to influence the cooperative's board structure.

Allegations of election rigging have surfaced in both Maharashtra and Haryana, prompting Rahul Gandhi to raise concerns about Election Commission accountability.