Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday jointly led the 'Virat Garjana Morcha' protest march in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, over what they allege are irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
From Metro Cinema to the BMC headquarters
The march began at Metro Cinema in south Mumbai and moved toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters, with the two cousins sharing the stage in a rare joint public appearance. Leaders and workers from the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) also took part. Organisers barred party flags from the march — only the national tricolour was carried.
Ballot papers, not EVMs, says Raj
Addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray demanded that the SIR exercise in Maharashtra be cancelled and argued that elections should be held through ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines. "Gyanesh Kaka, don't loot the vote," he said. Uddhav Thackeray said the demonstration opposed arbitrary action and what he described as attempts to keep voters off the electoral rolls.
Sena (UBT) leaders frame it as a democracy movement
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant told ANI that the joint appearance of the two leaders had given the protest added momentum, describing it as a movement to protect the Constitution and democracy under the slogan "Remove the Election Commission, Save the Country." Party leader Anil Parab said the protest was directed at the Chief Election Commissioner and was open to any citizen who felt their right to vote was under threat.
The poll panel's position
The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions, including those related to the SIR, were taken unanimously and through its institutional process. The assertion came after a report in The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several decisions and procedures linked to the SIR exercise — an interpretation the poll panel has rejected.
Sources: Mathrubhumi English, Hindustan Times
From Metro Cinema to the BMC headquarters
The march began at Metro Cinema in south Mumbai and moved toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters, with the two cousins sharing the stage in a rare joint public appearance. Leaders and workers from the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) also took part. Organisers barred party flags from the march — only the national tricolour was carried.
Ballot papers, not EVMs, says Raj
Addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray demanded that the SIR exercise in Maharashtra be cancelled and argued that elections should be held through ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines. "Gyanesh Kaka, don't loot the vote," he said. Uddhav Thackeray said the demonstration opposed arbitrary action and what he described as attempts to keep voters off the electoral rolls.
Sena (UBT) leaders frame it as a democracy movement
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant told ANI that the joint appearance of the two leaders had given the protest added momentum, describing it as a movement to protect the Constitution and democracy under the slogan "Remove the Election Commission, Save the Country." Party leader Anil Parab said the protest was directed at the Chief Election Commissioner and was open to any citizen who felt their right to vote was under threat.
The poll panel's position
The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions, including those related to the SIR, were taken unanimously and through its institutional process. The assertion came after a report in The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several decisions and procedures linked to the SIR exercise — an interpretation the poll panel has rejected.
Sources: Mathrubhumi English, Hindustan Times
