Uddhav, Raj Thackeray hit Mumbai streets for mega protest against Gyanesh Kumar

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray joined a march to the BMC headquarters over alleged SIR irregularities. The protest also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with slogans calling for him to step down.

In Short

• Uddhav invokes Hitler while attacking alleged arbitrary rule
• Raj Thackeray demands cancellation of SIR in Maharashtra
• Congress, NCP (SP) leaders join Uddhav-Raj Thackeray protest

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, with the parties alleging irregularities in the electoral process and demanding his resignation.

The morcha, dubbed the Virat Garjana Morcha (Grand Roar March), began from Metro Cinema in south Mumbai and was set to traverse the short distance towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. State leaders of the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) also participated in the protest.

The protesters demanded the removal or resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Mumbai march also comes two days after the Cockroach Janta Party held a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.

Taking a jibe at the Chief Election Commissioner during the protest, Raj Thackeray said, “Gyanesh Kaka, don’t loot the vote.”

He also demanded the cancellation of the SIR exercise in Maharashtra and called for elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of voting machines.

“Our demand is that the entire SIR conducted in Maharashtra should be cancelled. The law says that SIR is conducted if an emergency situation arises. Forty to sixty lakh voters were added during the Assembly elections, and power was captured through this. And now, through SIR, two crore people are being removed. Who are these two crore voters?” Raj Thackeray said.

“I appeal to all political parties to go to Delhi and demand that the SIR be cancelled. Voting machines should be discontinued, and elections should be conducted using ballot papers,” he added.

Addressing the gathering, Uddhav Thackeray said the protest was aimed at challenging what he described as dictatorial rule and alleged large-scale deletions from electoral rolls.

“We are standing here today to overthrow the dictator. Across the country, the names of 13 crore people have been deleted from the electoral rolls. Voters have been excluded in Bengal and Tamil Nadu as well,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

Referring to the ongoing by-election in West Bengal, he said, “A by-election is currently underway in West Bengal, and people have approached the Supreme Court seeking their right to vote. The Supreme Court says that it is only a by-election, so what difference does it make? It is still not decided whether the hearing will be held tomorrow.”

Uddhav Thackeray also invoked Adolf Hitler while attacking what he alleged was arbitrary rule.

“Hitler was also a dictator like this, but ultimately, he had to shoot himself. A similar situation could arise in this country as well. Those acting arbitrarily should keep this in mind,” he said.

He further said, “We will not rest until he is brought out onto the streets and punished within the framework of the law.”

Party flags were not allowed in the march. Participants and supporters were asked to carry only the national tricolour.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the Election Commission would have to be held accountable over the issue.

In a post on X, Aaditya Thackeray said, “Gyanesh will have to go!” He added, “We, the citizens of India, will not keep quiet till we reclaim our vote, our democracy and protect our constitution from the regime.”

“We are the world’s largest FORMER democracy. India does NOT trust the compromised Election Commission that has engaged in vote theft and election theft!” Aaditya Thackeray said.

Speaking ahead of the protest, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the march was a collective response to what he alleged were attempts to undermine democratic institutions, electoral processes and the constitutional rights of citizens.

“This protest is against the Hitler-rule prevailing in the country, hijacking elections, keeping the Election Commission and the Supreme Court in one's pocket, running a dictatorship, stealing votes, stealing elections, and poaching MPs and MLAs. This is a revolt against all that, much like the one in 1857,” Raut told reporters.

Raising the alleged mistreatment of a woman journalist at Jantar Mantar, Raut targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“A female journalist was harassed, humiliated and subjected to outraging of modesty by the police at Jantar Mantar. This falls under a Union Territory. Where is the Home Minister? Has he gone underground? Otherwise, he usually comes forward and makes tall claims. Where is he now?” he asked.

The Thackeray cousins had announced the October 4 march last month, with the protest focused on the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The organisers had sought participation from opposition parties, including the Congress and NCP, in the protest.

- Ends