Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray recently leveled serious accusations against the Election Commission (EC), claiming that a staggering 96 lakh “fake voters” have been illegally added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls just ahead of crucial local body elections. This revelation has ignited a fresh political firestorm across the state.
Speaking passionately to booth-level party workers in Goregaon, Mumbai, Thackeray demanded an immediate and comprehensive cleanup of the voter lists. He unequivocally stated that allowing elections to proceed with such alleged manipulation would be a “mockery of democracy.”
Thackeray highlighted specific areas, alleging that Mumbai alone accounts for 8 to 10 lakh fraudulent voters, with similar alarming figures reported in Thane, Pune, and Nashik. He emphasized that such electoral rigging would deeply disrespect every legitimate voter across the state. “This has been done in every village and city,” he asserted. “If elections are conducted this way, it’s an insult to both Maharashtra’s and the nation’s voters.”
The MNS chief directly accused the ruling party of attempting to manipulate the upcoming elections by inflating voter lists with bogus entries. He cynically remarked, “It doesn’t matter whether you vote or not. The match is already fixed,” casting a shadow of doubt over the fairness of the democratic process.
Addressing critics who often point to the MNS’s past electoral struggles, Thackeray countered that compromised voter data inherently undermines fair political representation. He questioned, “How can my party secure MLAs and MPs if the fundamental voting arithmetic itself is flawed?”
During his address, Thackeray played an old video clip of Narendra Modi, from his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, criticizing the Election Commission. He used this to highlight what he perceived as a stark hypocrisy now that the BJP holds power at the center.
Furthermore, Thackeray claimed that certain ruling party MLAs had privately acknowledged issues with voter list tampering. He also criticized the EC’s decision to halt voter list updates after July 25, arguing that this move unjustly deprived thousands of young, eligible voters of their right to participate.
A Call for Ballot Paper Voting
In a significant move, the MNS leader advocated for a return to traditional ballot paper voting. He believes this method would significantly enhance transparency and help restore public trust in the electoral system.
Beyond electoral concerns, Thackeray voiced apprehension about impending infrastructure changes. He alleged plans to shift Mumbai airport operations to Navi Mumbai and cargo services to the proposed Vadhavan Port in Palghar. He warned that prime land around these projects might be unfairly allocated to the Adani Group, cautioning against any development that marginalizes Marathi community interests.
“I will not tolerate development built over the tomb of Marathi people,” Thackeray passionately declared. He also evoked regional pride by recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s alleged opposition to Mumbai’s merger with Maharashtra.
Touching upon sensitive language politics, Thackeray questioned the increasing emphasis on Hindi in Maharashtra. “Why should we be compelled to learn Hindi when Hindi-speaking states often lag economically, while non-Hindi states demonstrate greater progress?” he asked, firmly stating that Marathi language and culture are “non-negotiable” and warning against any compromise.
Thackeray urged all political parties to conduct a diligent, door-to-door verification of voter lists. He also announced a major joint Opposition rally scheduled for November 1 in Mumbai, where he would join forces with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray to press for the removal of these alleged fake voters.
Following Thackeray’s speech, a joint press conference was held at Sena Bhavan in Mumbai. Key figures like Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar, NCP (SP)’s Jayant Patil, and Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant collectively amplified Thackeray’s concerns.
Sanjay Raut confirmed that even ruling party MLAs, including Manda Mhatre (BJP) and Sanjay Gaikwad (Shiv Sena), have privately acknowledged irregularities in the voter lists. He stressed the need for clean electoral rolls, pointing out that all major opposition parties are united on this issue while the EC remains unwilling to admit flaws. “We have to give the EC a jolt by hitting the streets,” Raut declared, indicating a strong stance.
Raut added that the upcoming rally would see thousands of disenfranchised voters participating. He confirmed that the protest would be spearheaded by Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Raj Thackeray, with invitations extended to senior Congress leaders. Another joint press conference involving Pawar and the Thackeray cousins is anticipated soon.
“If the EC intends to challenge us, we are fully prepared to accept it,” Raut affirmed.
Previously, on October 14, Opposition leaders had already met State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare and Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam. They had submitted detailed grievances regarding discrepancies in voter lists and demanded their rectification before the rural and urban body elections, slated for completion by January 31, 2026.
In response, the Maharashtra State Election Commission has maintained that no political party can tamper with electoral rolls and asserted that all corrections and updates are managed with stringent security measures.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant criticized the EC’s refusal to engage meaningfully with the Opposition’s concerns, calling it “detrimental to democracy.” NCP (SP)’s Jayant Patil stated that the November 1 protest would serve as a powerful expression of public outrage. “We expect the poll body to correct its mistake,” Patil urged, even inviting ruling parties to join the morcha if they prioritize democratic integrity.