Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have declared plans for a collaborative march in Mumbai on October 4, aimed at protesting the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, and the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, intend to extend their invitation to other political organisations to participate in the march. They are also encouraging citizens across Maharashtra to join this demonstration.

In a joint statement, the leaders accused the Election Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, of operating in favour of the ruling party. They alleged that voters’ rights had been compromised due to the SIR. The statement urged the public to unite in order to preserve democracy and protect the Constitution.

The specific time and location of the march will be disclosed at a later date, adding to the anticipation surrounding this political event.

Concerns Leading Up to the Protest

The announcement of the march comes in response to concerns raised about the Election Commission. Reports have indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have raised objections to decisions made by the poll panel on at least 14 occasions over a period of ten months. These concerns reportedly involve modifications to voter registration, as well as the addition and removal of names from the electoral rolls.

The Election Commission has contested the notion that these disputes invalidate their decisions, asserting that differences of opinion are a natural occurrence. They maintained that all significant resolutions, including those related to the SIR, were arrived at unanimously.

Regarding the controversy surrounding Form 6, the Commission clarified that the statutory form has not undergone any alterations and that an additional declaration is required under the SIR directives.

Uddhav Thackeray’s Demands for Accountability

On September 23, Uddhav Thackeray publicly called for the removal and prosecution of Gyanesh Kumar, labelling him a threat to democracy. Thackeray alleged that Kumar had ‘murdered democracy’ and disrespected the Constitution, urging for Kumar’s immediate dismissal and incarceration.

Moreover, he demanded the annulment of recent elections held in Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, advocating for their re-conduction using traditional ballot papers. Thackeray claimed that the SIR process resulted in the deletion of 90 lakh voter names in West Bengal and 70 lakh in Tamil Nadu. He further alleged that, ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, 45 lakh new names were added in Maharashtra, with objections filed against 40 lakh entries on the electoral roll.

As the October march approaches, the leaders have not yet specified which other political parties might join them, leaving room for speculation and potential alliances.

A Renewed Alliance Between the Thackeray Cousins

This upcoming march represents a significant collaboration between the Thackeray cousins, who have historically been political rivals. Earlier this year, their parties collaborated on the Mumbai civic elections, where they released a joint manifesto focusing on the Marathi identity issue and campaigned together.

In December 2025, Uddhav Thackeray stated that the leadership of Maharashtra rightfully belongs to the Thackeray family. Despite their joint efforts in the civic elections, the alliance faced defeat against the BJP-led Mahayuti; Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65 seats, while MNS won six. Both leaders, however, deemed the outcome a strong showing.

After their electoral collaboration, the cousins appeared together at an event celebrating the birth centenary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, marking a notable unity. Their current campaign shifts the focus from local elections to broader electoral issues, as they advocate for changes within the electoral roll process ahead of the forthcoming elections.

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