Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Shashikant Shinde Backs Thackerays’ October 4 Mumbai March
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray plan to hold a march in Mumbai on October 4.
They are protesting the Election Commission of India and a voter-list review called SIR.
Shashikant Shinde said his NCP-SP party will join the march after the organizers contact them.
He said his party supports the same demands.
The protest is connected to concerns about people being removed from voter lists.
An investigation reported that more than 13 crore names were removed from draft lists in 30 states and Union Territories.
The Bombay High Court will hear a petition about how SIR is being carried out in Maharashtra.
The petition asks for clear rules and protection for eligible voters.
NCP-SP Maharashtra president Shashikant Shinde said his party would join the Thackerays’ October 4 protest after being formally approached.
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray announced a joint Mumbai march against the Election Commission of India and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Shinde said the NCP-SP shares the protest’s demands and would discuss further action as part of the INDIA alliance.
The SIR exercise has triggered controversy after an Indian Express investigation reported that more than 13 crore names were removed from draft rolls across 30 states and Union Territories.
The Bombay High Court agreed to hear a Maharashtra SIR petition on October 5 seeking transparency and safeguards against wrongful voter exclusion.
- Who
- Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Shashikant Shinde, their parties, and the Election Commission of India are central to the dispute.
- What
- A joint October 4 Mumbai march is being planned over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- Shashikant Shinde announced his support on September 28, 2026; the march is scheduled for October 4, and the Bombay High Court hearing for October 5.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, with the related court petition before the Bombay High Court.
- Why
- The protest leaders and supporters have raised concerns about the SIR exercise, electoral-roll exclusions, and the functioning of the Election Commission.
Protest supporters
Election process under review
Special Intensive Revision
Protest supporters
The Thackerays and NCP-SP say the SIR exercise raises concerns about electoral-roll exclusions and requires public scrutiny and safeguards.
Election process under review
The articles report the Election Commission’s role in the exercise but do not provide a response from the commission to the protesters’ concerns.
Political participation
Protest supporters
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray want participation beyond their two parties, while Shashikant Shinde says the NCP-SP will join as part of the INDIA alliance.
Election process under review
The articles do not describe a counter-position from other political parties or the Election Commission regarding the proposed march.
- Planned protest
- Joint Mumbai march on October 4
- Organizers
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT)
- NCP-SP position
- The party says it will join after being approached by the organizers
- Main issue
- Concerns over the Election Commission of India and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Reported roll removals
- More than 13 crore names across 30 states and Union Territories, according to an Indian Express investigation
- Court hearing
- The Bombay High Court will hear a Maharashtra SIR petition on October 5
- Requested safeguards
- Transparency on the methodology and legal basis of SIR, plus protection against wrongful exclusion of eligible voters