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

Thackeray Relatives Show United Front

In a rare display of cooperation, Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray during a sprawling rally in Mumbai. The event, marketed as the Virat Garjana Morcha, attracted activists from a broad anti‑BJP coalition and turned the bustling streets of South Mumbai into a battlefield for a common cause.

Call for an Immediate Freeze on the Special Intensive Revision

The protest zeroed in on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral rolls. Both Thackerays argued that the methodology for adding and deleting names was opaque and risked disenfranchising legitimate voters. Raj Thackeray went further, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and reiterating his long‑standing opposition to 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 organizers, alleging that the march had proceeded without the required official clearance. The FIR was logged at Azad Maidan police station, and authorities indicated that any further legal action would hinge on the outcome of their investigation into procedural violations.

BJP’s Counter‑Narrative

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promptly dismissed the demonstration, questioning the opposition’s call to scrap electronic voting. Party spokespeople reminded citizens that all major political formations have successfully contested elections using EVMs and labeled the Thackerays’ demands as politically motivated theatrics rather than substantive reform proposals.

Looking Ahead

As the Special Intensive Revision proceeds across Maharashtra, the tug‑of‑war between opposition calls for a freeze and the government’s defence of the process is expected to intensify. Both camps are poised to trade statements in the coming days, keeping the state’s electoral reforms in the national spotlight.