Thackeray Cousins Allege Vote Theft, Urge Vigilance

Amid rumors of a potential alliance for upcoming local body polls, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have raised alarms over “vote theft” in Maharashtra’s electoral process. Both leaders have directed their workers to scrutinize voter lists to detect bogus entries, echoing concerns raised by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and BJP’s Anurag Thakur.

Speaking at a Shiv Sena (UBT) event in Dahisar on Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray claimed that 40-42 lakh voters were “infiltrated” into electoral rolls post-2024 Lok Sabha elections. “Check for vote theft in your ward. Ensure each person has only one vote,” he urged, alleging instances of double or triple voting under single names during polls. He suggested the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance couldn’t win fair elections, a sentiment resonating with Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of Election Commission collusion.

In Pune on Saturday, Raj Thackeray, addressing MNS workers, said he’s been flagging vote manipulation since 2016, citing muted victory celebrations in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections—where Mahayuti won 230 of 288 seats—as evidence of discrepancies. “Votes are being stolen,” he asserted, criticizing the Election Commission for not probing claims despite bipartisan concerns. He urged meticulous voter list checks to prevent further electoral losses, noting MNS’s failure to win any seats in 2024, while Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 20 in alliance with Congress and NCP (SP).

Also Read: Akhilesh Yadav Alleges BJP’s Vote Theft Cover-Up

The Thackerays’ coordinated rhetoric, amid talks of an MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) tie-up, suggests “vote theft” will be a key campaign issue. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the allegations, quoting Ghalib: “A nice thought to entertain oneself,” and urged introspection over blame.

Also Read: Fadnavis Turns Tables on Congress Over Vote Fraud Claims