Thackeray brothers lead Mumbai protest against Election Commission

The Thackeray brothers, often political rivals, found common ground in their condemnation of the poll panel's recent procedures. Uddhav Thackeray accused the Election Commission of enabling a dictatorial agenda, claiming that millions of voters have been systematically removed from rolls nationwide. He specifically questioned the appointment process for Election Commissioners and demanded greater transparency regarding the exclusion of voters from diverse regions, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Raj Thackeray bolstered these claims, calling for the immediate cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision in Maharashtra and advocating for a return to paper ballots, citing deep-seated distrust in electronic voting machines.

The demonstration received backing from various opposition figures, including NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar and CPI General Secretary D. Raja, who echoed concerns over the perceived lack of independence within the Election Commission. These allegations gained momentum following recent reports that two other election commissioners had recorded multiple objections regarding administrative procedures and data management over the past ten months.

State government leaders dismissed the rally as a desperate political stunt. Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar labeled the event a 'Langur Morcha,' arguing that the opposition is merely scapegoating the poll body to mask their own electoral failures. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has maintained that the revision exercise is a standard, transparent process aimed at cleaning electoral rolls. As the political friction intensifies, the Mumbai Police have initiated legal action against the protest organizers, signaling a deepening confrontation between the state leadership and the opposition coalition.