Raj and Uddhav Thackeray to lead protest march against EC on October 4
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray announce a joint protest march against the Election Commission on October 4 in Mumbai.
In a significant show of political unity, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray have announced a joint protest march against the Election Commission. The march, scheduled for October 4, aims to voice grievances regarding the functioning of the electoral body and the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Details of the October 4 March
The leaders held a joint press conference on Tuesday to outline the details of the upcoming demonstration. The protest march will begin from Byculla and proceed toward the BMC headquarters. Raj Thackeray emphasized that his party has been questioning the integrity of EVMs and the arbitrary decisions made by the Election Commission for several years without finding a resolution.
Extending an olive branch to other political factions, Raj Thackeray has invited all opposition parties to participate in this march to strengthen the collective voice against the Commission's recent actions.
Widespread Opposition Unrest
The announcement comes at a time of heightened tension between the Opposition and the electoral authority. The protests are fueled by several key issues:
- EVM Concerns: Persistent questioning regarding the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines.
- SIR Dispute: Intense opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- Demands for Resignation: Growing calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The political friction has already escalated across the country. In Delhi, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has called for protests at Jantar Mantar, though Delhi Police have indicated that no permission has been granted for a gathering on October 2. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikar chỉnhkar Kharge has vowed to fight "seriously" over the SIR issue, with the Congress Working Committee set to discuss the matter further.
Support for CJP's Movement
Adding to the momentum, Raj Thackeray expressed his full support for the "Jail Bharo Andolan" proposed by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The CJP's movement, led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, was originally planned for Shivaji Park on October 2. However, Mumbai Police have noted that they are not empowered to grant permission for gatherings in that specific area due to a 2013 Bombay High Court order designating it a "silence zone."
The atmosphere in Maharashtra remains charged, with Aaditya Thackeray warning that if the CEC does not resign, Mumbai will take to the streets in massive numbers starting October 2 to protest against what he termed "Vote Chori" (vote theft).
Internal Commission Friction Reported
The controversy has been further fueled by investigative reports suggesting internal dissent within the Election Commission itself. Reports indicate that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period regarding decisions linked to the SIR exercise. However, the Election Commission has dismissed these claims, maintaining that all decisions related to the SIR were reached through unanimous approval.