Thackeray Cousins Join Forces in Mumbai Rally to Contest Maharashtra’s Voter‑Roll Overhaul

A Rare Alliance on Mumbai Streets

In a striking display of unity, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray at a massive gathering in Mumbai. The event, dubbed the Virat Garjana Morcha, attracted activists from a broad spectrum of opposition parties and turned the bustling south‑side avenues into a forum for a common cause.

Calling for an Immediate Pause to the Special Intensive Revision

The protest’s nucleus revolved around the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Maharashtra. Both Thackerays questioned the legitimacy of the exercise, contending that the methodology for adding or deleting names lacked openness and risked marginalising legitimate electors. Raj Thackeray went further, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and reiterating his long‑standing criticism of electronic voting machines, urging a return to paper ballots. Uddhav Thackeray echoed these points, framing the march as part of a larger campaign for voter rights and electoral transparency.

Police Register FIR Over Unauthorised Procession

After the rally concluded, Mumbai police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the organisers, alleging that the march proceeded without the required official permission. The FIR was lodged at the Azad Maidan police station, and authorities indicated that any further legal action would depend on the findings of their inquiry into the rally’s logistics.

BJP’s Reaction to the Opposition Demonstration

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly condemned the demonstration, questioning the opposition’s push to discard electronic voting. Party spokespersons reminded citizens that all major political formations have successfully contested elections using EVMs and suggested that the Thackerays’ demands were unfounded. The BJP dismissed the protest as a political gimmick aimed at generating dissent rather than addressing genuine electoral shortcomings.

Looking Ahead

As Maharashtra’s voter‑roll revision proceeds, the standoff between opposition calls for a freeze on the SIR and the government’s defense of the process is poised to intensify. Both camps are expected to exchange statements in the coming days, keeping the state’s electoral reform debate in the national spotlight.