Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray led a massive protest march in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The march began at Metro Cinema and proceeded towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters in south Mumbai. Organised under the banner of the Virat Garjana Morcha (Grand Roar March), the protest was attended by leaders of the Congress and NCP (SP), although no party flags were allowed.
The protesters demanded the removal or resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise.
Ahead of the march, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the protest was a collective response to what he described as attempts to undermine democratic institutions, the electoral process and the constitutional rights of citizens.
“This protest is against the Hitler rule prevailing in the country, hijacking elections, keeping the Election Commission and the Supreme Court in one’s pocket, running a dictatorship, stealing votes, stealing elections, and poaching MPs and MLAs. This is a revolt against all that, much like the one in 1857,” he told reporters.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said the joint appearance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray had added momentum to the protest.
“It is a symbolic gesture. Understand this: the public is seething with anger and agitation, and today, that sentiment will find its expression,” he told ANI.
The march came two days after the Cockroach Janta Party held a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ against the Chief Election Commissioner at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
