Kolhapur

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

Thousands marched in Kolhapur on Monday against the state's decision to appoint directors to the Gokul Milk Cooperative.

The row stems from a board election where Satej Patil's panel won 13 of 25 seats to the BJP's 12. After four directors were given voting rights, the BJP's tally rose to 16, which Congress says came from post-election rule changes.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defends the move, saying neither side has enough votes for a quorum to choose a chairman. If the chairman vote fails three times, powers would go to the District Deputy Registrar.

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

MNS chief Raj Thackeray has accused the BJP of hypocrisy over its recent democracy marches, citing the Gokul Dairy row in Kolhapur.

The Congress-backed group took 13 of the 25 seats, defeating the BJP-supported side. Thackeray asked why the government then named five state-appointed members with voting rights, right after that defeat.

Congress MLC Satej Patil claims the aim is to give Gokul to Amul and has called a Kolhapur rally for November 9. NCP's Hasan Mushrif says the move was needed to break a deadlock, since no quorum could be met to elect a chairman.