Mumbai: In a strong show of opposition unity, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party (SP faction) along with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), staged a large-scale protest on Saturday against what they alleged were irregularities in the voters’ list in Maharashtra. The opposition claimed that these discrepancies—including multiple entries, wrongful deletions, and unauthorized additions—were skewing the electoral process in favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The protest, dubbed the ‘Satyacha Morcha’ or March for Truth, began in the afternoon from Fashion Street, located in the southern part of Mumbai, and proceeded over a distance of approximately one kilometre, culminating at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. The rally drew thousands of supporters and saw the active participation of senior political leaders including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, and senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Uddhav Thackeray Raises Concerns About Personal Voter Records

At the conclusion of the march, Uddhav Thackeray addressed the gathering, claiming irregularities had personally affected him. He stated that his name had been uploaded on the ‘Saksham’ app from a fake mobile number, raising concerns that his voter identity may have been compromised.

“I have a doubt that it was done to remove my name from the voters’ list,” the former chief minister said. Using a popular dialogue from the classic film Sholay, Thackeray issued a warning to the public, employing the ‘anaconda’ metaphor to highlight the perceived threat from the ruling party.

“Like the dialogue, ‘pachees kos door jab bachcha rota hai to maa kehti hai so jao nahi to Gabbar aa jayega,’ I want to tell you all to stay awake, or else anaconda will come,” Thackeray said.

He further accused the ruling BJP of attempting to manipulate electoral outcomes: “You steal my party, my symbol, my father’s name, and now you want to steal votes,” he asserted, linking the voter list issues directly to a broader narrative of alleged electoral malpractices.

Raj Thackeray Targets Dual Voter Claims

MNS chief Raj Thackeray also addressed the morcha, highlighting alleged cases of dual voters in Mumbai. According to the electoral rolls uploaded till July 1 this year, he claimed, thousands of voters were registered in multiple constituencies. Citing specific examples, Raj Thackeray stated that approximately 4,500 voters had cast votes both in Kalyan Rural Assembly in Thane district and in Malabar Hill Assembly in South Mumbai, questioning the validity of holding elections with such flawed records.

He called for thorough scrutiny of the electoral rolls by party workers and directed them to take strict action against those found guilty of voter duplication. “Whenever dual voters are caught, thrash them and then hand them over to the police,” Raj Thackeray instructed. He also emphasized that the current collaboration between MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) was aimed at serving the interests of Marathi Hindus and the people of Maharashtra, urging party cadres not to become complacent despite the high-profile alliance.

Sharad Pawar: Protecting Democracy

NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar described the march as a “powerful demonstration of strength and unity” to defend the Constitution and parliamentary democracy. Pawar criticized the BJP governments both at the state and central levels for allegedly misusing power to target opposition parties, asserting that electoral malpractices were undermining the democratic process.

He urged the Election Commission and government authorities to take immediate action to rectify the issues in the voters’ list before proceeding with local body elections, which have already been delayed by five years.

Congress Voices Concern

Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat reiterated that voter list discrepancies were first highlighted by Rahul Gandhiand were now resonating across Maharashtra and India. “During the assembly elections, our objection to the electoral rolls went unheeded. The voters’ list should be rectified and only then should local body elections be held,” he asserted. Other Congress leaders, including Naseem Khan, Satej Patil, and Bhai Jagtap, joined the march to show their support for the cause.

Participation and Logistics

The morcha saw active participation from leaders and party workers from all constituent parties of the MVA as well as MNS cadres. After the protest reached the BMC headquarters, Raj Thackeray, accompanied by party colleague Bala Nandgaonkar, boarded a train at Dadar station to head towards Churchgate, ensuring visibility of their campaign in other parts of the city.

Earlier in the week, Raj Thackeray had encouraged his party workers to use public transport to attend the event, reflecting a strategy of grassroots mobilization and public engagement, as well as emphasizing accessibility for ordinary citizens to join the protest.

Key Demands of the March

The Satyacha Morcha primarily sought to:

1. Highlight alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls, including multiple entries and wrongful deletions.
2. Demand that the Election Commission of India take immediate corrective action to clean up voter lists.
3. Postpone local body elections until voter list discrepancies are addressed, ensuring free and fair elections.
4. Demonstrate opposition unity and strength in the face of alleged ruling party mismanagement.

Through speeches and slogans, the leaders emphasized that accurate and transparent electoral rolls are crucial for protecting the democratic rights of citizens and maintaining the integrity of Maharashtra’s electoral process.

Political Context

Local body elections in Maharashtra have been delayed for five years, and the morcha underscored opposition concerns that the current voter rolls could significantly influence electoral outcomes. The protest brought together leaders from ideologically diverse parties, illustrating the convergence of political forces around the single issue of electoral integrity.

By leveraging public demonstrations, the opposition aims to pressure the Election Commission and ruling authorities to acknowledge and rectify voter roll discrepancies, while also energizing party cadres ahead of upcoming electoral contests.

Conclusion

The Satyacha Morcha was a high-profile protest that highlighted the opposition’s focus on electoral fairness, transparency, and accountability. With Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Congress leaders voicing concerns about alleged irregularities in the voters’ list, the protest signaled a united front against the ruling BJP’s alleged manipulations.

Through mass mobilization, targeted speeches, and direct appeals to the Election Commission, the opposition demonstrated its intent to hold authorities accountable and safeguard the democratic process. The event not only drew attention to voter list issues but also served as a demonstration of the strength and unity of Maharashtra’s opposition parties, sending a clear message to both the electorate and the ruling dispensation.

As political debates continue over the legitimacy of electoral rolls and the timing of local body elections, the Satyacha Morcha has set the tone for sustained opposition pressure on the government and the Election Commission, reinforcing the significance of credible voter registration in preserving democratic integrity in the state.