Mahayuti candidate and former NCP MLA Rajesh Patil was elected chairman of the Kolhapur District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union, popularly known as Gokul, on Tuesday, following a controversial election in which he defeated the candidate backed by the panel led by Congress MLC Satej Patil. Gokul is one of the most important cooperatives in Maharashtra and wields financial and politica l influence.

The chairman ’s election followed a prolonged legal tussle over the voting rights of government -nominated directors. In the October 19 elections to Gokul’s 25-member board, the Satej Patil-led Samavichari Aghadi had won 13 seats, against 12 secured by the Mahayuti panel. However, the election of the chairman was stalled after the October 29 meeting was adjourned for want of the mandatory quorum of 14 directors, with all 12 Mahayuti directors staying away.…