Raj Thackeray demands SIR cancellation, calls for return to ballot paper voting
Synopsis
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has demanded the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision exercise and called for a national opposition movement to restore paper ballot voting — directly naming CEC Gyanesh Kumar in a stinging mythological jibe. The statement sharpens an already charged political battle over the Election Commission's independence.
Key Takeaways
MNS chief Raj Thackeray on 25 September 2026 demanded the immediate cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter roll exercise.
He alleged the SIR, deployed since 2025 , is being used to manipulate electoral outcomes in favour of the ruling party.
Thackeray directly targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , accusing him of staying silent amid growing scrutiny of the ECI.
He called on all opposition parties to unite in a nationwide agitation demanding a return to paper ballot voting over EVMs.
The statement follows reports of internal dissent within the Election Commission of India , which opposition parties have cited as evidence of compromised institutional independence.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday, 25 September 2026, demanded the immediate scrapping of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging that the voter roll verification process was being weaponised to manipulate electoral outcomes. He also called for a nationwide opposition movement to restore paper ballot voting in place of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
What Thackeray Said
In a statement posted on X, Thackeray accused the ruling establishment of leveraging key institutional figures to maintain what he called an 'endless grip on power.' He urged all opposition parties across the country to unite and launch a 'massive agitation' demanding a return to traditional paper ballots.
Thackeray also deployed a sharp mythological analogy, remarking: 'Sant Dnyaneshwar once made a buffalo recite the Vedas; now, the buffaloes in power are getting their version of the Vedas recited through this Gyanesh.' The barb was a pointed reference to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, whom Thackeray accused of remaining silent over two days amid growing scrutiny over internal rifts and administrative decisions within the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The SIR Exercise in the Crosshairs
Thackeray described the Special Intensive Revision exercise as a 'new weapon' deployed since 2025 to engineer voter lists in favour of those in power. He noted that irregularities were now being flagged even from within the Election Commission itself — a development he said lent credibility to opposition concerns.
'The SIR currently underway should be completely cancelled. An impartial probe must be conducted into the irregularities that have surfaced, and only then should a fresh verification process be undertaken,' Thackeray said.
Call for a National Opposition Front
Thackeray urged all opposition parties to close ranks against the exercise, arguing that genuine electoral transparency could be guaranteed only through paper ballot voting. 'Only when we scrap this compromised process and move back to ballot paper voting will the absolute truth behind this long-standing hold on power finally be laid bare,' he added.
Broader Political Context
Thackeray's intervention comes amid an escalating political storm triggered by recent reports of dissent within the Election Commission. Opposition parties have increasingly rallied around the claim that the institutional independence of the electoral body has been compromised — a charge the ruling dispensation has rejected. Notably, the SIR exercise has drawn criticism from multiple opposition quarters, but Friday's statement marks one of the most direct attacks on the CEC by name. Whether other major opposition formations formally join the call for a ballot-paper movement remains to be seen.
Point of View
Giving the opposition a rare opening to put electoral infrastructure itself on trial. The EVM debate is well-worn terrain, but linking it to the SIR exercise and a named CEC is an escalation in tone that mainstream opposition leaders have so far avoided. Whether this galvanises a coherent front or remains a signature MNS solo act will test Thackeray's clout beyond Maharashtra. The deeper question — one that the ruling party must also answer — is why the SIR exercise, if legitimate, has generated enough internal dissent at the ECI to fuel these allegations in the first place.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise that Raj Thackeray wants cancelled?
The Special Intensive Revision is a voter roll verification process being conducted by the Election Commission of India. Raj Thackeray alleges it has been used since 2025 as a tool to manipulate electoral rolls in favour of the ruling party, and he has demanded its immediate cancellation along with an independent inquiry into reported irregularities.
Why did Raj Thackeray target CEC Gyanesh Kumar by name?
Thackeray accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of remaining silent for two days amid public and political scrutiny over internal rifts within the Election Commission. He used a sharp mythological reference to the Sant Dnyaneshwar story to mock the CEC, suggesting institutional decisions were being dictated by those in power.
What is Raj Thackeray's demand regarding EVMs and ballot papers?
Thackeray has called for all future elections to be conducted strictly using traditional paper ballots instead of Electronic Voting Machines, arguing that EVMs undermine public trust in the electoral process. He has urged opposition parties nationwide to launch a joint agitation to push for this change.
Which political party does Raj Thackeray lead?
Raj Thackeray is the founder and chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional political party based in Maharashtra. MNS has historically staked out positions distinct from both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the mainstream opposition Congress.
What is the broader political context of Thackeray's statement?
The statement comes amid escalating reports of dissent within the Election Commission of India, which opposition parties have cited as evidence of compromised institutional independence. Multiple opposition formations have raised concerns about the SIR exercise, but Thackeray's direct naming of the CEC and his call for a national movement represent a sharper escalation than most opposition voices have taken so far.
