States » WestPosted at: Oct 19 2026 8:50PM


Kolhapur: Satej Patil-led panel defeats Mahayuti in Gokul polls, wins 16 of 25 seats

Kolhapur, Oct 19 (UNI) In a significant setback for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, the Samavichari Aghadi, led by Congress MLA Satej Patil, won 16 of the 25 seats in the election to the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, popularly known as Gokul.
The Chhatrapati Shahu Shetkari Vikas Aghadi, backed by the Mahayuti, secured nine seats.
The result is being viewed as an important political development in Kolhapur district, where Gokul occupies a prominent position in the cooperative sector and plays a significant role in the rural economy.
Despite the backing of the Chief Minister, two Deputy Chief Ministers, three ministers, two MPs and ten MLAs, the Mahayuti could not secure a majority, while the alliance led by Patil emerged with a clear mandate.
The election was closely watched as a contest over political influence, control of the cooperative sector and the interests of milk producers.
While the Mahayuti brought together leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, Patil built an alternative front by joining hands with former MP Raju Shetti, Ganpatrao Patil and other like-minded leaders.

The election witnessed an exceptionally high turnout, reflecting the intensity of the contest. Of the 5,416 eligible voters, 5,414 exercised their franchise, taking the polling percentage to 99.96.
Both sides had expressed confidence of victory before the counting began. The Mahayuti expected its organisational strength and the support of senior leaders to work in its favour. Patil's alliance, meanwhile, focused its campaign on protecting the interests of milk producers, safeguarding Gokul's autonomy and addressing concerns over the future of the cooperative institution.
The counting witnessed close contests in several constituencies, with discussions over narrow victory margins and cross-voting adding to the suspense.
However, the Samavichari Aghadi eventually secured 16 seats, establishing a clear majority on the board.
The question of Gokul's autonomy emerged as one of the central issues during the campaign. Patil alleged that the cooperative faced the risk of coming under the control of external forces and appealed to voters to protect an institution owned by milk producers. He also criticised the Mahayuti over concerns surrounding a possible merger of Gokul.
Former MP Raju Shetti supported Patil on the issue, making the protection of the cooperative's independent identity a key component of the opposition alliance's campaign.
The Mahayuti leaders, on the other hand, maintained that they had come together to ensure the effective administration of the institution and protect the interests of milk producers. The campaign was marked by allegations and counter-allegations, turning the election into a battle of political prestige in addition to a contest for control of the cooperative.
Senior Mahayuti leaders, including Minister Hasan Mushrif, Minister Prakash Abitkar and MP Dhananjay Mahadik, campaigned for the alliance and sought to consolidate support for its candidates.
The involvement of prominent leaders from the ruling alliance had raised expectations of a strong performance. However, the final tally of nine seats fell short of securing control of the board.
For Patil, the outcome reinforces his position in Kolhapur's cooperative and district politics. His ability to bring different groups together under a common platform and challenge an alliance backed by several senior leaders has emerged as a key feature of the result.
The outcome could also influence political alignments in the district in the coming months, particularly as cooperative institutions continue to play an important role in shaping local political relationships.
The campaign also witnessed attempts to appeal to voters through religious sentiment. According to the account of the campaign, Mahayuti leaders invoked the names of Yellamma Devi and Saint Balumama and used vows and bhandara rituals in an effort to reinforce voter loyalty.
However, these appeals did not translate into a majority for the Mahayuti-backed panel. The outcome underlined that such appeals did not secure the electoral support the alliance had sought.
Gokul's importance extends beyond its political significance. The cooperative plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of milk producers and the rural economy of Kolhapur district.
With the Samavichari Aghadi securing a majority, the new board will face the task of protecting milk producers' interests, expanding the cooperative's business and ensuring transparency in its administration. Maintaining Gokul's autonomy while strengthening its operations will also be among the key challenges before the incoming leadership.
The 16-9 verdict marks a significant outcome in Kolhapur's cooperative politics, with Patil's alliance gaining control of the board despite the considerable political backing available to the Mahayuti.
UNI SP-SSS RN
Tags: #Kolhapur: Satej Patil-led panel defeats Mahayuti in Gokul polls# wins 16 of 25 seats
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