Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray jointly led a protest march in Mumbai on Sunday, October 4, targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising allegations concerning the electoral process.
The Virat Garjana Morcha began at Metro Cinema in south Mumbai and proceeded towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. Leaders from the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) also joined the demonstration.
Protest over electoral roll revision
The protesters demanded action against Gyanesh Kumar and raised objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra.
Raj Thackeray called for the cancellation of the SIR exercise in the state and advocated holding elections through ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines.
He also questioned the deletion and addition of voters during recent electoral exercises and urged opposition parties to take up the issue at the national level.
Uddhav Thackeray raises voter-roll concerns
Addressing protesters, Uddhav Thackeray alleged that large numbers of names had been removed from electoral rolls and said the issue required greater scrutiny.
He referred to similar concerns raised in other states and argued that voters’ rights should be protected.
Uddhav also criticised what he described as arbitrary functioning of institutions and said his party would continue its campaign over electoral issues.
Opposition parties participate
Congress and NCP (SP) leaders were among those who participated in the Mumbai march. The organisers had invited several opposition parties to join the demonstration.
Party flags were reportedly not permitted during the march, with participants asked to carry the national flag instead.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also criticised the Election Commission over the issue and said the opposition would continue to demand accountability.
Sanjay Raut targets Centre
Ahead of the march, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the demonstration was intended to raise concerns over electoral processes and constitutional institutions.
Raut also referred to allegations made by women journalists regarding police conduct during a recent protest at Jantar Mantar and questioned the response of the Union Home Ministry.
The joint protest was announced by the Thackeray cousins last month and centred on the Election Commission and the ongoing debate over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Maharashtra.