The Virat Garjana Morcha, jointly organised by the two Thackeray-led parties, targeted the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with protesters alleging irregularities and demanding Kumar’s resignation or removal.
BY PC Bureau
October 4: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who had already set aside their political differences, joined hands on Sunday to lead a protest march through south Mumbai against the Election Commission and its handling of the electoral-roll revision.
The cousins walked together at the head of the Virat Garjana Morcha (Grand Roar March), organised jointly by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS. The march began at Metro Cinema and was scheduled to culminate at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
The protest targeted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the organisers allege has been marred by irregularities. Protesters demanded the removal or resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and questioned the Election Commission’s handling of the revision process.
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Raj Thackeray sharpened the attack with a slogan directed at the CEC: “Gyanesh kaka, dale vote pa daka”—a phrase used by supporters to accuse the Election Commission of allowing votes to be stolen.
Congress leaders and leaders of the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP also joined the march, broadening the protest beyond the two Thackeray-led parties.
In a deliberate attempt to present the demonstration as a citizens’ movement rather than a conventional party rally, organisers kept party flags out of the procession and asked participants to carry only the national tricolour.
The march came two days after the Cockroach Janta Party held a “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Shivaji Park targeting Gyanesh Kumar over the electoral-roll revision. The Mumbai protests are part of a wider campaign against the Election Commission and its handling of SIR.
VIDEO | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray stage a joint protest march against CEC Gyanesh Kumar from Metro Cinema Junction to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/EtQ3tmleSN
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 4, 2026
With Uddhav and Raj already having buried their political differences, their appearance together on Sunday gave the protest added political weight. Two Marathi political formations were presenting a common front against the Election Commission, making the march as much a demonstration of political convergence as a protest over electoral rolls.
