Raj, Uddhav Thackeray lead Mumbai march against ECI over voter list row
Synopsis
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray — long-time rivals and scions of the same political dynasty — set aside their differences to jointly lead a mass protest march in Mumbai against the Election Commission of India, demanding cancellation of the SIR electoral roll revision process they allege is being weaponised to skew voter lists in the BJP's favour.
Key Takeaways
Raj Thackeray (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) jointly led a public protest march in Mumbai on 26 September .
The rally targeted the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged voter list manipulation under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Raj Thackeray demanded the immediate cancellation of SIR and a national return to paper ballots.
The march began at Metro Cinema , Mumbai, and was framed as a cross-partisan citizens' movement.
The two leaders called on all political parties nationally to unite in opposition to the ECI's ongoing exercise.
The alliance is politically notable given the MNS–Shiv Sena split of 2006 and their history of public rivalry.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, 26 September co-led a major public protest rally in Mumbai, jointly targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged voter list manipulation and structural irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls. The rare alliance between the two erstwhile rival leaders — both scions of the Thackeray political lineage — signals a widening opposition front against the ECI in Maharashtra.
What the protest is about
Both parties have accused the Election Commission of doctoring voter lists under the SIR process, alleging that the exercise serves the electoral interests of the ruling dispensation at the Centre rather than ensuring fair rolls. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS had, on Saturday, jointly charged the ECI with deceiving voters and functioning as what they called an extended arm of the ruling party. Raj Thackeray specifically demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing SIR process, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of using institutional positions to maintain an 'endless grip on power'.
A rally beyond party lines
Organisers were deliberate in framing the march as a cross-partisan citizens' movement rather than a narrowly factional protest. The march commenced from Metro Cinema in Mumbai. In a joint statement, the two parties said they would reach out to all political parties across the spectrum to build a unified opposition front. 'This is a rally of the people. To ensure it does not remain confined to a single party but becomes the collective voice of the entire political system and the citizenry, we will reach out to all political parties to join this front,' the statement read. The appeal concluded with a call for citizens to 'participate in this rally in large numbers. Come together to save the democracy of this country and the Constitution of this nation!'
Raj Thackeray's broader demand
Beyond Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray called on all opposition parties nationally to mobilise for a mass agitation demanding a return to paper ballots — a demand that echoes long-running concerns raised by several opposition formations about the integrity of electronic voting machines. He framed the protest as a decisive moment for safeguarding India's democratic framework and institutional independence.
Significance of the Thackeray alliance
The joint front between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray is politically significant given their history of public rivalry following the MNS split from the original Shiv Sena in 2006. Their coming together on a common platform — even on a single-issue protest — reflects the degree to which ECI-related concerns have galvanised Maharashtra's opposition. Notably, this protest comes in the run-up to a politically charged electoral season in the state, lending it additional urgency beyond the immediate demands. Whether this convergence hardens into a durable electoral understanding remains to be seen.
Point of View
But the substance underneath matters more: the SIR process has become a lightning rod for opposition anxieties about institutional capture ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested electoral cycle in Maharashtra. The ECI has not yet publicly addressed the specific allegations of structural bias in the SIR exercise, and that silence is doing political work for the protesters. More broadly, Raj Thackeray's call for a national opposition mobilisation on paper ballots is a signal that this is not a localised grievance — it is an attempt to manufacture a constitutional flashpoint that forces the Centre onto the defensive. Whether the two Thackerays can sustain this unity beyond a single rally, or whether it dissolves once the immediate news cycle passes, will determine the protest's actual political weight.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray protesting against the ECI?
Both leaders allege that the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls is being used to manipulate voter lists in favour of the ruling party at the Centre. They have accused the ECI of institutional bias and called for the SIR process to be cancelled immediately.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process that the protest targets?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and clean electoral rolls. Critics, including the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), allege that the current round of SIR is being used to add or remove voters in ways that benefit the BJP, though the ECI has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Where and when did the Mumbai protest march take place?
The march took place on Sunday, 26 September, in Mumbai, commencing from Metro Cinema. It was jointly organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT).
What is the significance of Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray marching together?
The two leaders have been public rivals since Raj Thackeray broke away from the original Shiv Sena to found the MNS in 2006. Their appearance on a joint platform is widely seen as politically significant, reflecting the depth of opposition concern over the ECI's electoral roll exercise ahead of a major electoral cycle in Maharashtra.
What broader demand did Raj Thackeray make at the protest?
Beyond the SIR cancellation, Raj Thackeray called on all national opposition parties to unite for a mass agitation demanding a return to paper ballots, framing the protest as a fight to protect India's democratic institutions and constitutional framework.
