India, Nov. 9 -- Dairy farmers and Opposition leaders staged a major protest in Maharashtra's Kolhapur on Monday against the state government's decision to grant voting rights to four government-nominated directors in the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, popularly known as Gokul Dairy.

Led by the Rajarshi Shahu Shetkari Samvichari Aghadi, the protesters marched towards the district collectorate with cattle, carrying black flags and banners opposing the government's ordinance. The Times of India reported that more than 40,000 people joined the march.

The Maharashtra cabinet last week approved the appointment of five government-nominated members to the managing committees of cooperative institutions with an annual turn...