Raj Thackeray demands SIR be scrapped in Maharashtra, polls on ballot papers

A 'Garjana Morcha' was taken out in Mumbai against the functioning of the Election Commission. It was led by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray. Leaders of the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and other Opposition parties also joined the march, which ran from Metro Cinema to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.

Addressing the gathering after the march, Raj Thackeray sharply criticised the Election Commission over changes in the voter list, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the entire election process. His allegations and demands have brought the issue of the election process back into discussion in Maharashtra politics.

Raj Thackeray alleged that "vote chori" (vote theft) is taking place in the country's elections. He said he has been raising the issue since 2017. In this connection, he also mentioned his meetings with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee.

Citing the 2024 elections, Raj Thackeray said Maharashtra did not see the kind of celebration it should have. According to him, the number of voters rose sharply during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. These figures and the reasons behind them are Raj Thackeray's own claims and need to be checked separately against official information on the election process.

Along with the Election Commission, Raj Thackeray also spoke about the government's functioning. He alleged that projects, ports and other resources are being given to a few industrialists. He also said that there were many industrialists during the Congress era, whereas today mainly one industrialist's name comes up.

He also questioned the autonomy of institutions such as the Supreme Court, the High Courts and the Election Commission. Raj Thackeray claimed that the country's institutional structure is being altered, and said the march was against this.

Raj Thackeray made two main demands in his speech. First, the SIR process should be cancelled in Maharashtra. Second, future elections should be held on ballot papers.

Raj Thackeray said that if elections were held on ballot papers, the truth about the election process would come out clearly ("doodh ka doodh aur paani ka paani"). He also made it clear that whichever party comes to power, it must do so through a fair and transparent route.

The Election Commission has already put forth its position on the legal validity of the SIR process and related aspects. Raj Thackeray's allegations therefore have to be seen as part of his political stance.

The joint march of Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray was another important political aspect of the agitation. Both leaders had appealed to participants to carry the national flag in hand instead of party flags.

Political circles are now watching what stand the Thackeray cousins take after the march, what direction the agitation on SIR and the election process takes next, and how the Election Commission responds to their demands.