Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Fadnavis Calls Thackerays ‘Ghajinis’ After Mumbai Protest
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led a protest march in Mumbai about how voter lists are being checked.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar removed and the voter-list review in Maharashtra stopped.
Raj Thackeray also said elections should use paper ballots instead of voting machines.
Devendra Fadnavis criticized the march and called the Thackerays “Ghajinis,” referring to a film character who forgets things.
He said Maharashtra voted in 2024, Gyanesh Kumar became chief election commissioner in 2025, and the voter-list review began in 2026.
The opposition says the review could remove eligible voters.
The Election Commission says it is meant to update voter lists and allows people to raise claims and objections.
Police filed a case against the march organisers, alleging they lacked permission and broke restrictions.
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led the Virat Garjana Morcha in south Mumbai on October 4.
The march called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal and Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls to be scrapped.
Raj Thackeray also called for elections to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.
Devendra Fadnavis mocked the Thackerays as “Ghajinis,” arguing that the 2025 appointment of Gyanesh Kumar and the 2026 SIR could not have affected Maharashtra’s 2024 elections.
Mumbai Police filed an FIR against organisers, alleging the march lacked required permission and breached prohibitory orders.
- Who
- Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led the march; Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized it.
- What
- A protest demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s removal and the scrapping of Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- The march took place on October 4, 2026; Fadnavis’s remarks were reported on October 5.
- Where
- South Mumbai; the march ended near Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
- Why
- The organisers opposed the voter-roll revision and questioned the Election Commission; Fadnavis said the protest reflected political frustration.
Opposition and Thackerays
Fadnavis and Election Commission
Special Intensive Revision
Opposition and Thackerays
The opposition said the SIR could remove legitimate voters and demanded that the exercise be scrapped in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis and Election Commission
The Election Commission said the SIR is intended to update and clean voter rolls, with mechanisms for claims and objections.
Election Commission and 2024 election claims
Opposition and Thackerays
The Thackerays questioned the poll panel and sought Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, citing concerns about the SIR and alleged internal objections within the Election Commission.
Fadnavis and Election Commission
Fadnavis argued that the timeline undermined claims about the 2024 Maharashtra election: Kumar took office in 2025 and SIR began in 2026.
Purpose of the march
Opposition and Thackerays
The organisers presented the march as opposition to the SIR and a defence of voting rights; Raj Thackeray also called for paper ballots.
Fadnavis and Election Commission
Fadnavis described the march as an effort to regain lost political ground and said attendance was thin.
- Protest name
- Virat Garjana Morcha
- Protest date
- October 4, 2026
- Main demands
- Remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and scrap Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision
- Additional demand
- Raj Thackeray called for elections to use ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines.
- Chronology cited by Fadnavis
- Maharashtra elections were held in 2024; Gyanesh Kumar became chief election commissioner in 2025; SIR began in 2026.
- Opposition’s concern
- The opposition alleged the SIR could exclude legitimate voters; the Election Commission said it updates electoral rolls and allows claims and objections.
- Police action
- Mumbai Police filed an FIR against march organisers at Azad Maidan police station, alleging lack of required permission and violation of prohibitory orders.
- Other participants
- Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) leaders participated in the march.
