The leaders expressed serious concerns over several discrepancies in the voter lists, including incomplete addresses, incorrect house numbers, inclusion of non-resident voters
MUMBAI — The opposition parties in Maharashtra, including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), Shiv Sena (UBT), and other members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), have announced a massive protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Mumbai on November 1 accusing it for large-scale irregularities in the state’s voter rolls.
The leaders expressed serious concerns over several discrepancies in the voter lists, including incomplete addresses, incorrect house numbers, inclusion of non-resident voters, and instances where hundreds of voters were registered at a single address. The opposition has demanded immediate corrective measures and greater transparency from the ECI ahead of upcoming elections.
The protest was announced in the press conference addressed by NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar and senior Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant among other leaders.
The decision to hold the protest, which is being called the ‘Virat Morcha’, comes after a series of meetings between representatives of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, along with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and EC officials. Dissatisfied with the response from the poll body, the Opposition has now decided to take to the streets.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut announcing th protest said, “On November 1, which is a Saturday, a Virat Morcha will be held in Mumbai under the leadership of Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, and senior Congress leaders.”
Leaders from the MVA said that thousands of genuine voters were being struck off the rolls without verification, particularly in urban areas where the BJP faces growing discontent. The parties have demanded an immediate audit and correction of the voters’ list before any elections are held.
Congress’s Sachin Sawant claimed that despite raising the concerns over the irregularities in the voter’s list, the State Election Commission and the Maharashtra CEO did not give importance to the opposition’s views.
Senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil added that the ruling parties can also join the protest march, which is not against any party, but against those who want to harm democracy.
Raj Thackeray called upon the Election Commission to cleanse the voter lists and delay the forthcoming local body elections in the state until the rectification meets the approval of all political parties involved.
