Opposition Leaders Rally Against Voter List Irregularities in Mumbai

A coalition of opposition leaders in Maharashtra, including Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT), Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP), staged a significant protest on Saturday against alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls. The demonstration, termed the ‘Satyacha Morcha’ or “March for Truth,” commenced from Fashion Street in southern Mumbai and concluded at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, covering a distance of approximately one kilometre.

Participants in the march expressed their concerns that the current voters list contains multiple entries, wrongful deletions, and additions, which they argue disproportionately benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The opposition coalition, referred to as Maha Vikas Aghadi, asserts that local body elections in Maharashtra should be postponed until these discrepancies are addressed.

During the rally, Uddhav Thackeray claimed that his name had been improperly registered on the ‘Saksham’ app using a fake mobile number, suggesting an attempt to remove him from the voters list. Thackeray used a reference from the iconic film *Sholay* to highlight his concerns, stating, “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.” He emphasized the opposition’s eagerness to hold elections and defeat the ruling alliance.

Raj Thackeray raised alarm over what he described as “lakhs of dual voters in Mumbai,” citing figures from the electoral rolls published until July 1, 2023. He noted that around 4,500 individuals had allegedly voted in both Kalyan rural and Malabar Hill constituencies. “What is the need for elections with this bogus voter list? Clean it up and then hold polls,” he stated. Moreover, he suggested that the local body elections, already delayed for five years, could afford to be postponed further if necessary.

Thackeray also urged his party members to scrutinize the electoral rolls carefully for duplicate entries and advocated for a strong response to any discovered irregularities. “Whenever dual voters are caught, thrash them and then hand them over to the police,” he instructed, highlighting the urgency he sees in rectifying the electoral process.

Sharad Pawar, a veteran politician and leader of the NCP (SP), characterized the march as a powerful display of unity aimed at defending the Constitution and parliamentary democracy. He accused the BJP-led governments both in Maharashtra and at the national level of misusing their authority to suppress opposition.

Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat echoed these sentiments, stating that concerns over voter fraud had been first raised by Rahul Gandhi and are now gaining traction across the nation. He called for immediate attention to the electoral rolls, reinforcing the demand that local body elections should proceed only after necessary corrections.

The protest drew participation from various political figures, including Congress leaders Naseem Khan, Satej Patil, and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. Raj Thackeray’s earlier appeal for party workers to utilize public transportation to reach the venue reflected a strategic approach to mobilizing support while also addressing environmental concerns.

As the opposition coalition continues to advocate for electoral integrity, the future of the local body elections in Maharashtra remains uncertain, hinging on the resolution of these alleged irregularities.