After criticism, Raj, Uddhav invite all opposition parties to join anti-EC protest

Thackeray cousins widen outreach for October 4 Election Commission protest in Mumbai

Indiadailyupdate.com – Mumbai’s opposition politics is set to focus on an October 4 march targeting the Election Commission, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray reaching out to Congress and other Maha Vikas Aghadi partners after criticism over the initial announcement.

The two leaders had declared the protest without first consulting all opposition parties, prompting objections within the wider anti-BJP camp. On Tuesday, however, communication began with Congress and other MVA constituents to bring them into the planned mobilisation.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Raj Thackeray had also contacted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He described the outreach as part of a broader conversation among opposition parties over concerns involving the Special Intensive Revision exercise and the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“Why shouldn’t they? All opposition parties are talking to one another on this issue,” Raut said.

Raut called the planned Mumbai action an early expression of resistance against what he described as a corrupt chief election commissioner. The proposed march is intended to raise questions about the Election Commission rather than target a particular political party.

Route, symbols and message of the march

Raj Thackeray announced that the morcha will travel from Byculla to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters near Azad Maidan. He said participants would be asked not to carry party flags, with the Indian tricolour meant to be the sole symbol at the demonstration.

“This is not a morcha against any political party but against the EC, and any party can join us,” Raj Thackeray said.

He said the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) had been raising concerns about the Election Commission and alleged misuse of electronic voting machines for a long time. By framing the event as an open protest, the organisers appear to be seeking support beyond their own party workers and traditional alliances.

“We have been speaking against the EC and misuse of EVMs for a long time,” Raj Thackeray said.

The decision to use only national flags is intended to underline the organisers’ claim that the march concerns the protection of democratic institutions. It also gives parties outside the MVA an avenue to participate without making the protest appear to belong to a single organisation.

Support for the October 2 Shivaji Park agitation

The Thackeray cousins announced the October 4 march at a joint press conference held at Raj Thackeray’s residence. During the same appearance, they expressed support for the Cockroach Janata Party agitation planned at Shivaji Park on October 2.

Uddhav Thackeray said Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS would stand with the pressure group, comparing the support to their backing for its Jantar Mantar protest. He said the parties would align themselves with those seeking to defend democracy, while making clear that this did not mean they would share every public platform.

“We are with all those who want to save democracy,” Uddhav Thackeray said. “But this does not mean that we will go up on any dais.”

The developments are politically notable because the two Thackeray cousins are presenting a joint position while attempting to broaden it into a larger opposition effort. Their outreach places the emphasis on electoral administration and democratic process, rather than on a conventional party-versus-party campaign issue.

Government and BJP respond

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded by saying that protest is a legitimate democratic right, while suggesting that the organisers should examine the basis of their objections. He said the government would respond in greater detail after the agitation concludes.

“I won’t criticise anyone,” Fadnavis said. “But they must understand the issues they are fighting for and whether the examples cited are right or wrong. We will comment after the agitation is over.”

BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban argued that Shiv Sena (UBT) should assess the reasons behind its electoral defeat before assigning responsibility to the Election Commission. He questioned how Gyanesh Kumar could be blamed for the party’s Maharashtra loss when Kumar was not chief election commissioner at that time.

“Before blaming the Election Commission, the Shiv Sena (UBT) should introspect on the reasons for its own defeat,” Ban said.

Ban also raised questions about the party’s booth-level organisation and its BLA-2 representatives, contending that failures in election management should not be attributed to the Election Commission. The exchange highlights how the October 4 protest is likely to sharpen a wider dispute over election oversight, party preparedness and public confidence in the electoral process.

For Mumbai residents, the march will bring together questions of political coordination, institutional accountability and democratic symbolism in the city’s public space. Whether Congress and other opposition groups formally join will determine how broad the final coalition around the protest becomes.