Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Thackerays Lead Mumbai Protest Against Maharashtra SIR
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led a march in Mumbai about changes to voter lists.
It went from Metro Cinema to the city’s municipal headquarters.
The protesters said they believe the voter-list revision has problems and demanded action against the chief election official.
Raj Thackeray wanted Maharashtra’s revision cancelled and future elections to use paper ballots.
Uddhav Thackeray said the process could harm people’s right to vote.
These were claims made by the protesters, not findings established by the reports.
Minister Ashish Shelar criticized the march and defended the Election Commission.
The Commission said the revision includes a way to make claims and objections, and that final decisions were unanimous.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led the Virat Garjana Morcha from Metro Cinema to Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
Protesters demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or removal, alleging irregularities in electoral-roll revisions.
Raj Thackeray called for Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision to be cancelled and future elections to use paper ballots.
Uddhav Thackeray accused Kumar and the Election Commission of undermining voters’ rights; his claims were allegations made at the rally.
Minister Ashish Shelar dismissed the march as a “Langur Morcha,” while the Election Commission said SIR decisions were unanimous and the process allows claims and objections.
- Who
- Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, opposition politicians, protesters, and Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar.
- What
- A protest over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with demands to cancel Maharashtra’s exercise and for Gyanesh Kumar to resign or be removed.
- When
- Sunday, October 4, 2026.
- Where
- From Metro Cinema to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters in Mumbai.
- Why
- Protesters alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and raised concerns about voting rights and election fairness.
Protesters and opposition
Shelar and Election Commission
Purpose and conduct of SIR
Protesters and opposition
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray and other opposition figures alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and called for Maharashtra’s SIR to be cancelled.
Shelar and Election Commission
Ashish Shelar defended the Election Commission, questioned criticism following electoral defeats, and said the march had no legal demand or genuine public issue. The Commission said the process allows claims and objections.
Voter deletions and election fairness
Protesters and opposition
Uddhav Thackeray claimed large numbers of voters had been deleted and said voters’ rights and democracy were under threat.
Shelar and Election Commission
The Election Commission said final decisions on the SIR schedule were unanimous; Shelar cited election outcomes in which non-BJP parties formed governments as evidence against claims of bias.
Voting method
Protesters and opposition
Raj Thackeray called for future elections to use paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines.
Shelar and Election Commission
The reports do not describe a specific response from Shelar or the Election Commission to the paper-ballot demand.
- Protest name
- Virat Garjana Morcha (Grand Roar March)
- Route
- Metro Cinema to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters, south Mumbai
- Main demands
- Cancel Maharashtra’s SIR and seek Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or removal
- Voting method demand
- Raj Thackeray called for paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines
- Disputed voter figures
- Uddhav Thackeray cited 13 crore deletions nationally; he also claimed 2 crore in Maharashtra, 30 lakh in West Bengal, and 70 lakh in Tamil Nadu. The figures are claims reported from the rally.
- Shelar’s response
- Ashish Shelar called the march a “Langur Morcha” and said it had no legal demand or genuine public issue.
- Election Commission response
- The Commission said the SIR process includes claims and objections and that final decisions on its schedule were unanimous.
- Other participants
- Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Vijay Wadettiwar, and leaders of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), attended.
