Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Thackeray Cousins Lead Mumbai March Against Election Commission Chief
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led a protest march in Mumbai on October 4, 2026.
The march was called the Virat Garjana Morcha.
Protesters objected to changes in the lists of people registered to vote and accused the Election Commission of irregularities.
They demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign or be removed.
Raj Thackeray also called for the voter-list revision to stop in Maharashtra and for paper ballots to replace voting machines.
These were the protesters’ claims and demands, not findings established by the reports.
Congress and NCP (SP) leaders also joined, and one report estimated nearly 5,000 participants.
Accounts differed about whether the march headed toward the BMC headquarters or Azad Maidan.
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led the Virat Garjana Morcha in Mumbai on October 4, 2026, protesting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Protesters demanded Kumar’s resignation or removal over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Raj Thackeray called for Maharashtra’s SIR to be scrapped and for electronic voting machines to be replaced by paper ballots.
Congress and NCP (SP) leaders joined the march; one report estimated nearly 5,000 participants, including young people and women.
Reports said the march began near Metro Cinema, but differed on whether it proceeded toward the BMC headquarters or Azad Maidan; BJP leader Ram Kadam cited Uddhav Thackeray’s earlier march over alleged bogus voter names.
- Who
- MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray led the march; Congress and NCP (SP) leaders and supporters also participated.
- What
- The Virat Garjana Morcha protested alleged electoral-roll irregularities and called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or removal.
- When
- Sunday, October 4, 2026.
- Where
- Mumbai; reports say the march began near Metro Cinema in Marine Lines. Reports differed on whether it proceeded toward the BMC headquarters or Azad Maidan.
- Why
- Organizers and participants said they were protesting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and defending voting rights.
Protest leaders and participants
BJP criticism
SIR and voting rights
Protest leaders and participants
Thackeray leaders and other participants alleged irregularities in the SIR and said voting rights were being threatened. Raj Thackeray called for the process to be scrapped in Maharashtra and for paper ballots to replace EVMs.
BJP criticism
The reports do not provide a detailed BJP response to the specific SIR allegations. BJP leader Ram Kadam instead questioned Uddhav Thackeray’s participation, citing his earlier march demanding removal of alleged bogus names from voter rolls.
- March
- Virat Garjana Morcha, also called the Grand Roar March
- Date
- October 4, 2026
- Starting point
- Metro Cinema, Marine Lines, Mumbai
- Main demand
- Resignation or removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Additional demands
- Raj Thackeray called for Maharashtra’s SIR to be scrapped and for voting machines to be replaced with paper ballots
- Reported participation
- One report estimated nearly 5,000 supporters; other reports described a large crowd
- Participating groups
- Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, Congress and NCP (SP) leaders were reported as participating
- Electoral-roll figures
- More than 2.06 crore electors were absent from Maharashtra’s draft roll after enumeration forms could not be collected, according to the reports
Sources
'Scrap SIR...': Uddhav, Raj Thackeray lead Mumbai protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Raj, Uddhav Thackeray Lead Morcha in Mumbai Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Raj, Uddhav Thackeray To Hold Protest In Mumbai Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar Today | Live Updates
From Gen Z To Balasaheb Loyalists, Diverse Crowd Of Nearly 5,000 Joins Thackeray Brothers’ Mumbai Morcha
