BJP, Shiv Sena slam Thackeray brothers' Garjana Morcha as EVM double standards
Synopsis
The Thackeray brothers' rare public reunion at Mumbai's Garjana Morcha — billed as a roar against EVMs and the Election Commission — drew an immediate counter-offensive from the BJP and Shiv Sena, who pointed out that both Raj and Uddhav won their biggest electoral victories through the very machines they now denounce. The ruling alliance's 'sour grapes' framing could define how Maharashtra's undecided voters read the protest.
Key Takeaways
BJP and Shiv Sena labelled the Garjana Morcha on 4 October 2026 a 'publicity stunt' and a display of 'double standards.' Minister Ashish Shelar noted that Uddhav Thackeray's party won BMC elections in 2007, 2012, and 2017 via EVMs; Raj Thackeray's party won its highest MLA count in 2009 through EVMs.
Shelar cited six state elections under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar where non-BJP parties won Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry , countering bias claims.
Minister Sanjay Shirsat noted that prominent leaders including Sharad Pawar did not join the march, calling it a 'photo-op for two brothers.' The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is 90 per cent complete, according to Shelar — the very exercise the opposition had previously demanded.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena on Sunday, 4 October 2026, fired back at the Raj Thackeray- and Uddhav Thackeray-led Opposition's Garjana Morcha in Mumbai, branding the rally against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) a 'display of double standards' and a 'publicity stunt.' The ruling alliance's counter-offensive came from two fronts — Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar in Mumbai and Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Shelar's 'Jackal's Howl' Salvo
Addressing a press conference, Minister Ashish Shelar dismissed the protest as a 'Kolhe-Kui March (jackal's howl)' rather than a 'Garjana March (roaring protest),' linking its timing pointedly to World Animal Day. He accused the opposition of displaying a 'sour grapes' mentality by raising EVM grievances only after electoral defeats.
Shelar cited the opposition parties' own electoral history to undercut their claims. 'Uddhav Thackeray's party secured victories in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in 2007, 2012, and 2017 using EVMs. Raj Thackeray's party recorded its highest number of elected MLAs in 2009 through EVM voting. The decision to introduce EVMs was originally made under Congress governance, and victories during that era were never questioned by the party,' he said.
He added, 'When opposition parties win, the EVMs and the Election Commission are considered fair. But when they face defeat, they blame the machines and administrative bodies. This hypocritical stance will not be accepted by the public.'
Citing Non-BJP Election Wins Under Gyanesh Kumar
Refuting allegations of institutional bias, Shelar pointed to six state elections held under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He noted that non-BJP parties formed governments in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won mandates in West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam — arguing the record showed no systematic tilt.
The Voter List Contradiction
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists — a key demand at the Garjana Morcha — Shelar said 90 per cent of voter mapping was already complete. He then turned the opposition's own past statements against it.
'MNS chief Raj Thackeray in October 2025 raised concerns over voter list discrepancies and alleged 9.6 million bogus voters, demanding list corrections before municipal polls. In November 2025, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP(SP) organised protests against the ECI demanding verification of duplicate voters. In January 2026, further demands were filed to eliminate duplicate voters,' Shelar noted, questioning why the same leaders were now protesting the ECI's ongoing SIR process designed to address precisely those concerns.
Shirsat: 'Photo-Op for Two Brothers'
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Sanjay Shirsat took a sharper personal line, mocking the rally as a 'publicity stunt to create hype while wearing matching T-shirts.' He questioned the march's leadership structure — 'Tell us whose leadership this is: Uddhav's or Raj's?' — and noted that prominent opposition figures including Sharad Pawar had not joined the demonstration.
'This is just an event and won't get much response. If you are serious, go to Jantar Mantar; call for Chalo Delhi. They know their stance won't hold water, so they are doing this needlessly,' Shirsat said. He also questioned whether the march was a show of strength or a sign of political survival anxiety, noting that the opposition had previously opposed the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) appointment as well.
What Comes Next
The Garjana Morcha marks a significant, if contested, moment in Maharashtra's pre-municipal election political landscape. Whether the rare public alignment of the estranged Thackeray brothers translates into durable opposition cohesion — or remains, as ruling-alliance leaders insist, a fleeting photo opportunity — will be tested at the ballot box when Mumbai's civic polls are eventually held.
Point of View
The 'sour grapes' charge is likely to stick with swing voters.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Garjana Morcha and why was it held?
The Garjana Morcha was a protest rally led by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on 4 October 2026, directed against the Election Commission of India and Electronic Voting Machines. The opposition alleged institutional bias and called for voter list reforms ahead of anticipated civic elections.
Why did BJP accuse the opposition of double standards on EVMs?
BJP's Ashish Shelar pointed out that Uddhav Thackeray's party won BMC elections in 2007, 2012, and 2017 using EVMs, and Raj Thackeray's MNS recorded its highest MLA count in 2009 through EVM voting — yet neither party questioned the machines when they were winning. The Congress, which originally introduced EVMs, also never disputed EVM-aided victories.
What did the ruling alliance say about Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?
Minister Shelar cited six state elections held under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in which non-BJP parties formed governments — including in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry — to argue that the ECI under Kumar has not shown systematic bias toward the ruling alliance.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, and why is it relevant?
The SIR is an Election Commission process to clean and verify voter rolls. Shelar noted that the same opposition parties had demanded voter list purification — with Raj Thackeray alleging 9.6 million bogus voters in October 2025 and Shiv Sena (UBT) staging protests in November 2025 on the same issue — making their current protest against the ongoing SIR process contradictory, according to the minister.
What was Sanjay Shirsat's criticism of the Garjana Morcha?
Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, speaking from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, called the event a 'publicity stunt' centred on the optics of the two estranged Thackeray brothers being photographed together in matching T-shirts. He also noted that key opposition figures, including Sharad Pawar, did not participate, questioning the march's political reach.
