Alleged Missing Voters and FIR Issues Spark Protests Across India
Aditya Thackeray, a senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), raised serious concerns about the integrity of voter records in Maharashtra on Friday. Referring to a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, Thackeray said the Election Commission of India disclosed two contradictory figures – one in May and another in August – that together highlighted a gap of 7.9 lakh voters. He urged the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the official of orchestrating what he termed a "large‑scale tampering" of the electoral roll.
The leader drew attention to specific constituencies where the data mismatch was evident. In Bhivandi, the draft voter list did not match the SIR numbers, while in Mahiem, individuals who had consistently voted since 2002 were now receiving legal notices despite being listed in the draft roll. Thackeray also criticized the verification process at the booth level, alleging that officers were completing checks over phone calls rather than conducting door‑to‑door verification.
Beyond Maharashtra, Thackeray highlighted incidents of youth activists from Goa and Rajasthan being detained while traveling to join protests. He warned that the incumbent government would confront several hurdles before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The statements were made as protests erupted across the country, including a rally by Maharashtra Public Service Commission candidates in Pune and a demonstration in New Delhi demanding the removal of the chief election commissioner. Security forces were deployed in the capital and curfews imposed in multiple locations.
Shiv Sena (UBT) reiterated its support for the Delhi protests, noting that senior party figure Sanjay Raut was also participating. The leader also condemned the Maharashtra government’s alleged inaction on paper‑leak investigations involving officials. He concluded by expressing hope that the pending legal dispute over the Shiv Sena name and election symbol would receive a just resolution.