Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray led a protest march in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration, dubbed the Virat Garjana Morcha, demanded the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing alleged irregularities. The protest began at Metro Cinema and moved toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. Participants carried only the national flag, as party flags were not permitted. The march followed a similar protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) two days earlier at Shivaji Park, also targeting the CEC.

Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of 'vote chori' and claimed that '13 crore people' had been deleted from electoral rolls nationwide. He questioned the appointment process of Gyanesh Kumar and the Centre’s handling of illegal immigrants. Raj Thackeray alleged that 40 to 60 lakh voters were added during the Assembly elections and that two crore voters were being removed through SIR. He called for the entire SIR exercise in Maharashtra to be cancelled and urged political parties to demand its cancellation in Delhi. CJP leader Saurav Das responded with the phrase 'Gyanu, it’s done bro!' referring to Gyanesh Kumar, while Dipke called for solidarity among protestors and noted the cultural difference between Mumbai and Delhi police.

The protest comes amid ongoing debates over the SIR process, which aims to update electoral rolls by removing ineligible voters. Critics, including Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, argue that the process is being misused to suppress opposition votes. The Election Commission has not publicly responded to these allegations, though it has defended the SIR as a necessary measure to ensure electoral integrity. The CJP separately held a protest in Delhi over allegations of sexual harassment against police personnel during a previous demonstration against Gyanesh Kumar.

The SIR process has been a contentious issue in Maharashtra, with multiple political parties and activists raising concerns about its impact on voter representation. While the Election Commission maintains that the process is transparent and legally mandated, critics argue that it lacks sufficient oversight and accountability. The protests in Mumbai and Delhi highlight the growing public and political scrutiny of the CEC’s role in managing electoral roll revisions. The next major development will be the outcome of the Election Commission’s review of the SIR process, expected by October 15, 2026.

The protests underscore the deepening political tensions over electoral reforms and voter rights. While the CEC has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations, the controversy has intensified calls for greater transparency in the SIR process. The involvement of multiple parties, including the Congress and NCP, suggests that the issue has broader implications for the state’s political landscape. As the Election Commission prepares to address the concerns, the focus remains on ensuring that the SIR process serves the interests of fair and inclusive elections.