The demonstration, dubbed the 'Virat Garjana Morcha', began at Metro Cinema on Sunday and wound its way to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led the march, joined by Congress and NCP cadres. Attendance was sparse, with only a few hundred witnesses crowding the route, according to police.
Fadnavis, speaking on the sidelines of a television programme, dismissed the rally as a political exercise designed to revive opposition fortunes. He warned that the march was an outlet for frustration after the parties were rejected by voters. The chief minister suggested that the protest was a tactical move rather than a genuine grievance.
Opposition leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision slated for 2026. They also called for greater transparency in the electoral process, alleging that the SIR had removed eligible voters. The Election Commission has denied any wrongdoing and maintains the revision is a necessary cleanse.
Kumar was appointed CEC in July 2025, while Maharashtra held elections in October 2024. The SIR was formally launched in March 2026, following the 2025 appointment. Critics argue that the timing of the revision could influence voter rolls for the next state election.
The Election Commission will hold a public hearing on the SIR next month to address opposition concerns. Meanwhile, the BJP has pledged to defend the exercise in Parliament, and a legal challenge is expected to be filed in the Bombay High Court.