Mumbai
oi-Ashish Rana
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday led a joint protest march in Mumbai, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray led a joint protest march in Mumbai demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revision.
The protest, dubbed the ‘Virat Garjana Morcha’ (Grand Roar March), began near Metro Cinema, where a large number of supporters of both Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray gathered. The two leaders are leading the march towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in south Mumbai.
Uddhav, Raj Thackeray Join Hands
The Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), which are allies of Shiv Sena (UBT) in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), are also backing the protest.
The participants are demanding the removal or resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. Party flags have not been allowed during the march, with participants and supporters asked to carry only the national tricolour.
Several opposition leaders have also joined the protest. NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde, NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad and PWP leader Jayant Patil have arrived on the stage.
Supporters Gather Near Metro Cinema
A large crowd of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters gathered near Metro Cinema ahead of the march. The joint appearance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray has drawn attention as the two cousins have been leading separate political outfits in Maharashtra.
The protest is focused on the Election Commission and the electoral roll revision exercise. Opposition parties have raised concerns over the process and demanded greater transparency in the revision of voter lists.
March Towards BMC Headquarters
The protest march will cover the short distance from Metro Cinema to the BMC headquarters in south Mumbai. The organisers have urged participants to carry the national flag instead of party flags during the demonstration.
The ‘Virat Garjana Morcha’ comes two days after the Cockroach Janta Party held a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ against the Chief Election Commissioner at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
The latest protest brings leaders and supporters from multiple opposition parties together in Mumbai over their demands concerning the Election Commission and the electoral roll revision process.
