Mumbai, October 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing the ruling establishment of undermining democratic institutions and manipulating electoral rolls.
Addressing the ‘Garjana Morcha’ rally in Mumbai, organised jointly by Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Thackeray invoked the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative to criticise what he described as growing authoritarianism.
“When he first became the Prime Minister, he announced Make in India. We supported that vision. But if you are manufacturing a dictator under Make in India, we stand here today to bury that dictatorship,” Thackeray said, warning against what he termed authoritarian tendencies.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged large-scale discrepancies in electoral rolls, claiming that 13 crore voters had been removed from lists across the country, including two crore in Maharashtra. He also cited alleged deletions of 70 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu and 30 lakh in West Bengal, questioning the basis for the exclusions.
Referring to West Bengal, Thackeray questioned the timing of decisions on disputed voter applications ahead of by-elections. He also criticised the scheduling of Supreme Court hearings on electoral matters, arguing that delayed decisions could prevent reinstated voters from exercising their franchise.
Thackeray questioned the appointment process of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, criticising the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel. He alleged that the revised panel, comprising the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, gave the ruling government an advantage. He further claimed that Kumar’s appointment proceeded despite formal dissent from Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Thackeray said the political discourse had shifted from the BJP’s earlier campaign against alleged Congress corruption to what he described as a movement against “vote theft”. He accused the BJP-led government of political retribution rather than effective administration and claimed that resolving the remaining disputed voter applications at the current pace could take nearly 146 months.
Raising concerns about law and order in Maharashtra, he referred to the recent murder of Shiv Sena office-bearer Pradeep Purnekar in Thane and questioned the state government’s response. He also criticised the administration over crimes against women and citizens, challenging its claims of upholding Hindutva.
Invoking Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, he said his vision of democracy did not support what he described as a vengeful political approach. Uddhav warned the ruling establishment that public anger could translate into street protests, asserting that public spaces ultimately belonged to citizens.
The march, which began at Metro Cinema and proceeded towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters near CSMT, drew thousands of supporters. Participants carried the Indian Tricolour, with organisers avoiding party flags.
The rally brought together several opposition groups, including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), Peasants and Workers Party of India, Left parties, MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT). The joint demonstration marked a significant show of opposition unity around concerns over the ECI and the electoral process.
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