Raj and Uddhav Thackeray lead joint Mumbai march against Election Commission today

The political temperature in Mumbai is set to rise today. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will take to the streets together against the functioning of the Election Commission. A large march titled "Garjana Lokshahi aur Samvidhan Bachane ke Liye" (a roar to save democracy and the Constitution) has been organised, and the whole state is watching.

The march, led by the Thackeray brothers, will begin at 10 am. It will set off from Metro Cinema and go to the headquarters of the Mumbai municipal corporation. After the march, the main leaders will address party workers and those present. Political circles are watching what stand Raj and Uddhav Thackeray take on the occasion.

The march is seen as significant against the backdrop of questions raised by opposition parties about the Election Commission's functioning. The opposition has repeatedly objected to the electoral rolls, the transparency of the election process and the conduct of the Commission.

Several opposition parties in the state have backed the agitation. The Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar and the state's Left parties have supported the Thackeray brothers' march. A big turnout is therefore expected.

One notable feature is that an appeal has been made not to bring any political party's flag to the march. Raj and Uddhav Thackeray have appealed that everyone taking part should carry only the tricolour.

Explaining the thinking behind the march, Raj Thackeray has said there is no place for party politics in the agitation. He clarified that the march is against the Election Commission's functioning over the past few years. He also said all political parties will be invited to the march. According to him, anyone from the ruling party who wants to come on stage is welcome too.

Raj Thackeray has said the main issue of the march is the defence of democracy and the Constitution. For this reason, the appeal is that everyone join with the tricolour in hand, without any party flag.

Meanwhile, the BJP is alleging that the opposition wants to shift the blame for its electoral defeats onto the Election Commission. Responding to this, Raj Thackeray cited the saying "Jo khaye, usi ko khujli hoti hai" (it is the one who has eaten who gets the itch) and took a jibe at the BJP in a humorous tone.

The march, held under the joint leadership of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, has again set off talk in Maharashtra politics about the Thackeray brothers' unity. Raj Thackeray has also hinted at the direction of the next agitation after today's march. All eyes are therefore on which political issues come up in the speeches and what future strategy the Thackeray brothers announce.