Thackeray cousins unite at Shivaji Park, demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's ouster
Synopsis
For the second consecutive day, the Thackeray cousins — Aaditya from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Amit from MNS — stood together at Shivaji Park in a rare public show of unity, as both parties escalated their joint campaign to oust Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll manipulation. With MNS now rolling out a statewide signature drive, this cross-faction alliance is shaping up as one of Maharashtra's most unusual opposition coalitions in years.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS held a second consecutive day of protests at Shivaji Park, Mumbai on 12 October 2026 .
Both parties demand the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter list deletions and electoral irregularities.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray launched a statewide signature campaign, with his wife, daughter, and son signing alongside him.
Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray appeared together at the venue, presenting a rare united front between the two rival Thackeray factions.
Police had detained protesters, including social activists, during Sunday's standoff at the same location.
The signature drive is expanding to railway stations and key locations across Maharashtra , signalling a sustained campaign.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) mounted a second straight day of demonstrations at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, on Monday, 12 October 2026, jointly demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and arbitrary voter list deletions. The back-to-back protests signal a deepening opposition front in Maharashtra over Election Commission accountability.
What Happened at Shivaji Park
The protest site around the iconic Meenatai Thackeray statue transformed into a hub of political activity by evening. Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and youth activists gathered wearing black mouth bands and carrying the national Tricolour in a silent demonstration, specifically to condemn police action against protesters detained the previous day. Meanwhile, MNS spearheaded a high-profile statewide signature campaign, launching it outside Dadar station and near Shivaji Park.
The Thackeray Family Takes Centre Stage
MNS chief Raj Thackeray inaugurated the signature drive by placing the first signature, followed by his wife Sharmila Thackeray, daughter Urvashi Thackeray, and son Amit Thackeray. The protest's symbolic peak came when Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and MNS youth chief Amit Thackeray stood together at the venue — a rare public display of unity between the two Thackeray cousin factions, which have historically operated as rivals.
What the Leaders Said
Aaditya Thackeray delivered sharp criticism at both the ruling administration and the Election Commission, framing the agitation as a national issue rather than a local one. 'We are fighting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar to protect our democracy. The current ruling dispensation is shielding him because this government itself was formed through vote theft and electoral manipulation. This is a battle for our country's citizens, and this nationwide movement will not stop until justice is served,' he said.
Key Participants
The demonstration drew broad participation from both parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) was represented by Aaditya Thackeray, Tejas Thackeray, MLC Anil Parab, Mahesh Sawant, Vilas Potnis, and Nitin Deshmukh. The MNS contingent included Raj Thackeray, Sharmila Thackeray, Amit Thackeray, Urvashi Thackeray, and senior party functionaries.
Background and What Comes Next
Sunday's protests at the same venue had ended in a confrontation, with police detaining several protesters, including social activists and political workers. The arrests, and the Thackeray cousins' visible intervention during the detentions, reportedly galvanised Monday's turnout. This is the second consecutive day of coordinated action — a notably rare alignment between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, two outfits that share ideological roots but have clashed bitterly since Raj Thackeray broke away from the original Shiv Sena founded by his uncle, the late Bal Thackeray. With the MNS signature campaign now expanding across railway stations and key locations statewide, the opposition alliance has signalled that street pressure over voter roll transparency and Election Commission accountability will intensify further across Maharashtra.
Point of View
Drawing from the same Hindutva-Maratha voter base in direct competition. Their joint platform, however optics-driven it may be, signals that shared grievance over voter roll transparency can temporarily override factional rivalry — a pattern Maharashtra has seen before, rarely to durable effect. The demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation also sits within a broader national opposition narrative questioning Election Commission independence. Whether Sunday's police detentions become a liability for the ruling dispensation or fade as a news cycle blip will depend on how long this cross-faction momentum holds.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS protesting at Shivaji Park?
Both parties are demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging electoral irregularities and arbitrary deletions from voter rolls. The demonstrations at Shivaji Park on 12 October 2026 mark the second consecutive day of joint protests on this issue.
Who is Gyanesh Kumar and why is he facing resignation calls?
Gyanesh Kumar is India's Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS in Maharashtra, allege that under his tenure the Election Commission has allowed arbitrary voter list deletions and failed to ensure electoral transparency, though the Election Commission has not publicly responded to these specific claims.
What is the MNS statewide signature campaign?
MNS chief Raj Thackeray launched a signature drive outside Dadar station and near Shivaji Park on 12 October 2026, aimed at mobilising public support for the demand to oust CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The campaign is being expanded to railway stations and key locations across Maharashtra.
Why is the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance at this protest significant?
Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have historically been rival outfits competing for the same Marathi voter base since Raj Thackeray broke away from the original Shiv Sena. Their public show of unity — with Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray standing together — is a rare alignment that underscores the intensity of the shared grievance over Election Commission accountability.
What happened at Sunday's protest that preceded Monday's demonstrations?
Sunday's protest at Shivaji Park ended in a confrontation with police, who detained several protesters including social activists and political workers. The Thackeray cousins' visible intervention during the arrests is credited with intensifying turnout for Monday's follow-up demonstrations.
