Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Thackerays Lead Mumbai March Against Gyanesh Kumar and SIR
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led a protest march in Mumbai against the Election Commission.
They want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and Maharashtra’s voter-list revision to stop.
They say the process has wrongly removed about two crore voters, but this is their allegation.
Raj Thackeray also wants elections to use paper ballots instead of voting machines.
The organisers asked people to carry India’s flag, not party flags.
Leaders from Congress and NCP (SP) also took part or supported the protest.
Reports differ about whether the march began at Metro Cinema or Richardson & Cruddas in Byculla.
It ended at or near Mumbai’s civic headquarters.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led a Mumbai march demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and cancellation of Maharashtra’s SIR.
The Thackerays accused the Election Commission of bias and alleged the revision removed about two crore Maharashtra voters; these are their claims.
Raj Thackeray called for future elections to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.
Organisers asked marchers to carry the national tricolour rather than party flags, aiming to present the protest as a broader movement.
Congress and NCP (SP) leaders joined or backed the march; reports differ on whether it started at Metro Cinema or Richardson & Cruddas.
- Who
- Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led the march; Congress and NCP (SP) leaders participated or expressed support.
- What
- A protest demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and cancellation of Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- Sunday; the articles do not provide a date.
- Where
- Mumbai; reports say the march began at Metro Cinema or Richardson & Cruddas in Byculla and ended at or near the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
- Why
- The organisers allege irregularities and voter removals under the SIR and accuse the Election Commission of bias.
Thackerays and opposition critics
Election Commission and ruling-party response
Electoral-roll revision
Thackerays and opposition critics
The Thackerays and other opposition critics allege irregularities and large-scale voter removals, and demand that Maharashtra’s SIR be cancelled.
Election Commission and ruling-party response
The articles provide no direct Election Commission response to the rally’s allegations.
Commission’s impartiality
Thackerays and opposition critics
Uddhav Thackeray called Gyanesh Kumar a BJP “weapon,” alleging the Commission is being used by the ruling party.
Election Commission and ruling-party response
The articles report no direct response from Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission, or the BJP to this accusation.
Voting method
Thackerays and opposition critics
Raj Thackeray called for paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.
Election Commission and ruling-party response
The articles do not report a response from the Commission or another named supporter of electronic voting machines.
- March name
- Virat Garjana Morcha
- Lead organisers
- Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray of MNS
- Main demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and cancellation of Maharashtra’s SIR
- Voter deletion allegation
- The Thackerays alleged about two crore Maharashtra voters were removed; one report says 2.07 crore electors were left out of the August 31 draft because enumeration forms were not collected.
- Notices reported
- One report says 1.22 crore Maharashtra electors were served notices.
- National scale cited
- One report says the SIR struck more than 13 crore names off draft rolls across 30 states and Union Territories.
- Raj Thackeray’s voting proposal
- Replace electronic voting machines with paper ballots.
- March symbols and route
- Marchers were asked to carry only the tricolour; reports name Metro Cinema or Richardson & Cruddas as the starting point.
Sources
Thackeray brothers to lead grand Mumbai march today to protest against ECI
Uddhav, Raj Thackeray unite in Mumbai To Take On CEC
Gyanesh is BJP's weapon: Uddhav; cancel SIR: Raj
Why the Thackerays are marching without party flags against Gyanesh Kumar’s ECI in Mumbai