Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Raj Thackeray Announces Mumbai Morcha Against Election Commission
Raj Thackeray said two political parties will organize a protest in Mumbai on October 4.
The protest will be against the Election Commission.
His party, the MNS, will join Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT).
They said all parties, even ruling parties, could attend.
The disagreement concerns a review of voter lists called the Special Intensive Revision.
Some opposition parties say Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign.
They are concerned about objections reportedly made by two other election commissioners.
The Election Commission says its decisions were made unanimously.
Congress has also held protests about the issue in several parts of the country.
Raj Thackeray said the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold a morcha against the Election Commission in Mumbai on October 4.
The two parties said they would invite all political parties, including ruling parties, to join the protest.
Opposition parties have criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times to decisions and orders over 10 months.
The Election Commission said its three members unanimously approved decisions, including those concerning the electoral-roll revision.
- Who
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray announced the protest.
- What
- The MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) will organize a morcha against the Election Commission.
- When
- The announcement was reported on September 29, while the morcha is planned for October 4; the reports differ on whether the announcement was made on Tuesday or Monday.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The protest concerns Opposition criticism of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Opposition Parties
Election Commission
Special Intensive Revision
Opposition Parties
Opposition parties have criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the electoral-roll revision and demanded his resignation.
Election Commission
The Election Commission said decisions concerning the revision were taken unanimously by its three-member commission.
Internal objections
Opposition Parties
Opposition criticism intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times, including over decisions they said were issued without their knowledge.
Election Commission
The Election Commission maintained that the commission’s decisions, including those related to the revision, were unanimous.
Public protests
Opposition Parties
The Congress held protests across the country and said opposition to Kumar would grow until he was removed; the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) announced a Mumbai morcha.
Election Commission
The Election Commission has defended the unanimity of its decisions rather than endorsing the opposition’s calls for Kumar’s removal.
- Protesting parties
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT)
- Protest date
- October 4
- Protest location
- Mumbai
- Main election official criticized
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Issue
- Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected to decisions or orders at least 14 times over 10 months
- Election Commission response
- The three-member commission said decisions, including those on the electoral-roll revision, were unanimous
