Opposition leaders flag alleged electoral-roll irregularities under the SIR exercise; Congress and NCP (SP) leaders join the ‘Virat Garjana Morcha’
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray led a joint protest march in south Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in electoral-roll revision and calling for his resignation.
Mumbai, Oct 2026 : Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday led a joint protest march in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the electoral process and demanding his resignation.
The march, named the ‘Virat Garjana Morcha’, began at Metro Cinema in south Mumbai and proceeded towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. Leaders from the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) also participated in the demonstration.
The protesters raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and called for the removal or resignation of Kumar. Taking a swipe at the Chief Election Commissioner, Raj Thackeray said, “Gyanesh Kaka, don't loot the vote.”
Organisers instructed participants not to carry party flags, asking them to display only the national tricolour during the march.
Ahead of the demonstration, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the protest represented a collective response to what he alleged were attempts to undermine democratic institutions, electoral processes and citizens’ constitutional rights.
Raut said the march was intended to highlight alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s functioning, concerns over voting rights and the demand for Kumar’s resignation. He added that Congress, NCP, Left parties and the Peasants and Workers Party had been invited to participate.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said the joint appearance of the Thackeray cousins had given momentum to the protest. He described the demonstration as a movement centred on protecting the Constitution and democratic principles.
Another Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Anil Parab, said the protest extended beyond political parties and was also intended to bring together citizens concerned about their right to vote.
The march followed a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ organised by the Cockroach Janta Party against Kumar at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park two days earlier.
Raut also raised allegations concerning the alleged mistreatment of a woman journalist during protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the matter.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray had announced the October 4 march last month, seeking participation from opposition parties across Maharashtra. The demonstration forms part of a broader opposition campaign questioning the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise and other electoral issues.
