Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar slams Thackeray brothers joint march as "Langur Morcha", says had "neither any legal demand nor issue"

Addressing the media, Shelar dismissed the entire agitation as a baseless reaction to recent electoral setbacks. He pointed out that the march lacked any legitimate legal foundation or genuine public concern.

"The march they held today involved neither any legal demand nor any legal issue," Shelar stated. He then took a sharp jab at the timing of the protest, noting, "Today is 'World Animal Day'; in this context, I would call it a 'Langur Morcha'. The public defeated them in the elections, which is why they are criticising the Election Commission."

Defending the integrity of the poll body, Shelar questioned why the opposition only targets the Election Commission when they face defeat. "If we lose an election, the Election Commission is wrong, but if we win, it is right?" he asked rhetorically. He further noted that since Gyanesh Kumar became a commissioner in February 2025, six assembly elections have occurred, with non-BJP parties forming governments in three of them, challenging the narrative of institutional bias.

Thackeray Brothers Target "Dictatorship"

The joint march was a significant moment of political alignment between the two Thackeray factions, both of whom have been vocal critics of the current electoral processes. Uddhav Thackeray framed the protest as a fight against an emerging dictatorship.

"We are standing here today to overthrow the dictator," Uddhav Thackeray declared, alleging that the rights of voters are under direct attack. He made startling claims regarding the scale of voter exclusion, suggesting that names of approximately 13 crore people have been deleted from electoral rolls across the country, including instances in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Uddhav Thackeray also raised serious questions regarding the appointment process of the Chief Election Commissioner. "The first question is how was Gyanesh Kumar appointed?" he questioned, further alleging that the Election Commission is being used to exercise powers that affect citizenship and voting rights in a manner similar to authoritarian regimes.

Demands for SIR Cancellation and Ballot Papers

Raj Thackeray focused his criticism on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process currently being implemented in Maharashtra. He demanded an immediate halt to the exercise, questioning its necessity under existing laws.

• Questioning the SIR: Raj Thackeray argued that according to the law, an SIR should only be conducted in emergency situations.
• Allegations of Voter Manipulation: He claimed that while 40 to 60 lakh voters were allegedly added during the Assembly elections to capture power, the current SIR is being used to remove two crore voters. "Who are these two crore voters?" he demanded to know.
• Call for Ballot Papers: In a major policy demand, Raj Thackeray appealed to all political parties to head to Delhi to demand the cancellation of the SIR and the discontinuation of voting machines in favor of traditional ballot papers.

The political standoff highlights a deepening rift between the ruling establishment and the Thackeray-led opposition over the very mechanics of Indian democracy and the sanctity of the electoral rolls.