Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday, 7 November 2026 accused the Mahayuti government of undermining cooperative democracy in Maharashtra by approving the appointment of non-official 'expert' directors to the Gokul Milk Union (Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh), alleging the move is designed to overturn the results of a recently concluded election. The controversy has drawn statewide attention, with 5.5 lakh dairy farmers in Kolhapur watching the outcome closely.

The Election Outcome at the Centre of the Row

The dispute stems from the results of recent Gokul Milk Union elections, which are considered a vital economic and political institution for dairy farmers across Kolhapur. The Satej Patil-led like-minded alliance secured 13 seats, while the Mahayuti-backed faction led by Hasan Mushrif won 12 seats. Rather than accept the narrow defeat, critics allege the state government swiftly amended cooperative regulations to introduce provisions for appointing additional directors — reportedly turning the minority bloc of 12 into an effective governing majority of 16, bypassing the democratically established 13-seat majority.

What the Samaana Editorial Alleged

The Thackeray camp published its broadside in the party mouthpiece Samaana, drawing a sharp analogy between Lord Krishna's mythological butter-stealing in Gokul and what it characterised as the ruling alliance's political manoeuvring. 'Lord Krishna was famous in Gokul as Makhan-Chor... Krishna only stole butter, but today's BJP tricksters have looted the entire Gokul. This loot has caused a stir not just in Maharashtra, but across the country. To snatch away the power from Gokul Milk Union, a hooliganism of appointing expert directors to the union has been unleashed,' the editorial alleged.

Selective Restructuring and High-Profile Figures

The editorial further alleged that the regulatory restructuring appeared tailor-made to rehabilitate specific individuals — including Shoumika Mahadik and Naved Mushrif — who, according to Shiv Sena (UBT), faced decisive rejection at the hands of Kolhapur's milk producers in the elections. Notably, critics pointed out that while the cooperative rules were hastily rewritten for the Gokul Union, prominent district cooperative banks and cooperative sugar factories were reportedly exempted from similar interventions — a selective approach the opposition argues reveals the political intent behind the move.

Opposition's Democratic Accountability Argument

'A government that denies the right of a democratically elected majority to appoint its own leadership is a traitor to the core tenets of democracy,' the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction said, drawing parallels between the state-level manoeuvres and broader national political tensions. Opposition leaders characterised the cabinet's decision as a sign of panic within ruling circles. The party argued that what began as a routine regional milk union election has escalated into a high-stakes contest over institutional autonomy and majority rule.

What Happens Next

Legal challenges are reportedly on the horizon, with dairy farmers and cooperative members in Kolhapur tracking developments closely. The controversy has reignited a wider debate across Maharashtra over the sanctity of cooperative institutions, which have historically functioned with relative independence from direct state-level intervention. The Mahayuti government is yet to formally respond to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s allegations as of the time of this report.