"Public anger over EC’s actions being voiced": Anil Desai on Uddhav, Raj Thackeray leading protest against Gyanesh Kumar
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray lead a joint protest march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll irregularities.
In a rare show of political unity, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray joined forces on Sunday to lead a massive protest march against the Election Commission of India.
The leaders marched toward the BMC headquarters in Mumbai, targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was fueled by growing allegations of irregularities regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and what the opposition describes as a direct assault on democratic rights.
Public Anger Over EC Actions
Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai stated that the joint demonstration by the two Thackeray leaders is a direct reflection of the widespread resentment felt by the citizens. Desai claimed that the Election Commission’s recent decisions have bypassed democratic norms.
Desai revealed that even within the commission, there were internal disagreements regarding certain procedures. "The Election Commission comprises three commissioners... Two of the commissioners raised objections regarding these developments, which ran counter to democratic principles," Desai said.
He specifically highlighted concerns regarding 'Form 6,' alleging that the process has caused deep anxiety among ordinary citizens. According to Desai, the form forced individuals to constantly question whether they were even recognized as citizens of the country. He noted that despite these internal objections and pleas to withdraw flawed measures, the concerns were ultimately ignored by the commission.
"Overthrow the Dictator": Uddhav Thackeray's Allegations
Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the poll panel, framing the protest as a fight to protect the sanctity of the vote. He accused the authorities of systemic voter exclusion on a massive scale.
"We are standing here today to overthrow the dictator," Thackeray declared during the march.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader made several explosive claims regarding the integrity of the electoral rolls:
- He alleged that the names of approximately 13 crore people have been deleted from electoral rolls across the nation.
- He claimed that voters were specifically excluded in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
- He questioned the authority of the Home Ministry, asking if they have the power to cancel citizenship rights, and accused them of using Gyanesh Kumar to exercise such power.
Raj Thackeray Demands Return to Ballot Papers
Raj Thackeray, leading the MNS, focused his demands on the specific implementation of the SIR exercise within Maharashtra. He called for an immediate halt to the current revision process.
"Our demand is that the entire SIR conducted in Maharashtra should be cancelled," Raj Thackeray stated. He went a step further by calling for a fundamental shift in how Indian elections are conducted.
He urged all political parties to take their grievances to Delhi, making a plea to "discontinue voting machines and conduct elections using ballot papers."
The Core of the Controversy
The political storm centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While the opposition parties allege that the process is being used to manipulate voter lists and disenfranchise citizens, the Election Commission has defended its actions. The poll panel maintains that the revision is a standard procedure intended to update and clean electoral rolls, and that it provides established mechanisms for citizens to file claims and objections.
As the demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation grows among opposition ranks, the joint march by the two Thackeray leaders marks a significant escalation in the tension between the political opposition and the country's top electoral body.