Raj Thackeray at Garjana Morcha: Scrap SIR drive, restore ballot papers
Synopsis
Raj Thackeray used the Garjana Morcha in Mumbai to do something rare — unite with Uddhav Thackeray and a broad opposition front to challenge the Election Commission's legal authority head-on. His twin demands — kill the SIR drive, bin EVMs — backed by claims of two crore deleted voters, escalate a brewing crisis over electoral credibility in India's most politically consequential state.
Key Takeaways
Raj Thackeray addressed the 'Garjana Morcha' rally in Mumbai on 4 October 2026 , demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
He alleged the nationwide SIR drive has led to the deletion of two crore voters from electoral rolls, calling it illegal and unconstitutional.
He demanded abolition of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and a return to paper ballots to restore public trust in elections.
Raj Thackeray joined hands with Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) ; the march also drew Congress , NCP (SP) , and Left parties.
He alleged Maharashtra saw an addition of 40–60 lakh voters in a six-month window after the Lok Sabha elections, raising questions about roll accuracy.
The rally marks a significant escalation in opposition demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar .
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Sunday, 4 October 2026, used the opposition's 'Garjana Morcha' rally in Mumbai to issue a direct ultimatum to the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the immediate scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the reintroduction of paper ballots across all future elections. The rally, which drew crowds from across the political opposition, marched from Metro Cinema to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in South Mumbai.
Thackeray's Legal Challenge to the SIR Drive
Invoking legal opinions he attributed to former Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh, Raj Thackeray argued that conducting a nationwide SIR without specific statutory backing was entirely illegal. 'A Special Intensive Revision can only be conducted under exceptional circumstances — such as natural disasters, floods, earthquakes, or massive population displacement — and even then, only for specific constituencies with written justifications,' he said. 'Executing a blanket nationwide SIR is illegal and has no provision in the law.'
He declared the ongoing SIR exercises unconstitutional and unauthorised, and called on all political parties to unite in demanding their immediate halt. This comes amid broader opposition unease over electoral roll management ahead of upcoming state and local body elections.
Allegations of Voter Roll Manipulation
Raj Thackeray alleged sharp discrepancies in voter tallies — claiming that while electoral rolls were 'artificially inflated' ahead of the Assembly elections, the current SIR drive has since led to the deletion of two crore voters nationwide. 'Who are these two crore citizens being removed from the rolls? Are they our voters? On what grounds are they being disenfranchised?' he asked.
He also raised questions about a rapid demographic surge, alleging that Maharashtra added 40 to 60 lakh voters within a six-month window following the Lok Sabha elections. He further alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was responsible for the deletion of nearly two crore voters from electoral rolls nationwide — a claim the BJP has not formally responded to as of this report.
Notably, Raj Thackeray said he had been raising concerns about Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering and voter list discrepancies since 2017–2018, and had at the time met senior opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to press for a unified election boycott to expose the alleged irregularities.
Demand for EVM Abolition and Paper Ballots
The MNS chief argued that abolishing EVMs and returning to physical ballot papers is the only credible path to restoring public trust in democratic outcomes. 'If these two demands are met, everything will be clear as day — doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani. After that, it doesn't matter who wins or comes to power, because the mandate will be legitimate,' he said.
Questioning the legitimacy of the ruling Mahayuti coalition's electoral majority, he observed that despite an overwhelming win, there had been an unnatural silence — or 'sannata' — across Maharashtra after the results, which he said reflected public scepticism about the outcome.
Opposition Unity at the Garjana Morcha
Raj Thackeray shared the dais with Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray — a notable display of solidarity between two leaders who have historically been at odds. The march also saw participation from Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction, and Left parties, signalling a broad-based coalition rallying around electoral integrity demands.
The rally escalates an ongoing opposition campaign targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with leaders calling for his resignation and accusing the ECI of systemic voter roll manipulation during the 2024 General Elections and subsequent Assembly polls. How the ECI responds — and whether it addresses the legal questions raised about the SIR process — will shape the next phase of this political confrontation.
Point of View
Congress, and NCP (SP) all on the same platform. The legal argument about the SIR's statutory basis is the sharpest edge here: if the process lacks explicit legal grounding, the ECI faces a credible court challenge, not just street protest. Yet the opposition's credibility on this issue is complicated by its own electoral record — parties that won state elections rarely questioned the same EVMs. The two-crore-deletion claim demands independent verification; if substantiated, it is a democratic emergency; if overstated, it risks undermining a legitimate audit of bloated rolls.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process that Raj Thackeray wants scrapped?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India process to audit and update electoral rolls, typically used in specific constituencies under defined circumstances. Raj Thackeray argues that conducting a blanket nationwide SIR lacks statutory backing and is therefore illegal, citing legal opinions attributed to former Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh.
What is the Garjana Morcha and who participated in it?
The Garjana Morcha was a major opposition protest rally held in Mumbai on 4 October 2026, marching from Metro Cinema to the BMC headquarters in South Mumbai. It brought together MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction, and Left parties in a unified demand for electoral accountability.
Why does Raj Thackeray want EVMs replaced with paper ballots?
Raj Thackeray argues that EVMs have eroded public trust in election outcomes, citing what he describes as unnatural post-election silence in Maharashtra despite the Mahayuti coalition's overwhelming win. He contends that paper ballots would produce indisputable, transparent results and legitimate mandates.
What voter roll discrepancies did Raj Thackeray allege?
He alleged that the current SIR drive has resulted in the deletion of two crore voters nationwide, while Maharashtra's rolls were inflated by 40 to 60 lakh voters in the six months after the Lok Sabha elections. He also alleged the BJP was responsible for the nationwide deletions — a claim that has not been formally contested or verified as of this report.
What are the implications for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar?
The Garjana Morcha marks an escalation in opposition calls for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, with leaders accusing the Election Commission of systemic voter roll manipulation during the 2024 General and Assembly elections. Whether the ECI formally responds to the legal questions around the SIR process will determine the next phase of this standoff.
