Raj Thackeray Alleges 96 Lakh Fake Voters; Opposition Unites for Mumbai March

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has ignited controversy ahead of the local body elections, alleging that 96 lakh fake voters have been added to the electoral rolls. Speaking to party workers on Sunday, Thackeray demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) halt elections in Maharashtra until the voter list is rectified. "This is an insult to the voters of Maharashtra and the country," he stated, urging MNS workers to verify votes door-to-door.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut echoed Thackeray’s concerns, confirming that Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, Congress, and NCP-SCP, will stage a protest march in Mumbai on November 1 to demand action against the alleged bogus voters. Raut clarified, "We never said we won’t contest the BMC election, but the voter list must be corrected first." He announced that a delegation led by Uddhav Thackeray, alongside Raj Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, will meet election officials to address discrepancies in the voter list.

Raut accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "match-fixing" elections, a sentiment echoed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier this year. Gandhi had claimed the Maharashtra Assembly elections in November 2024 were rigged, alleging an unusual spike in voter numbers in the five months prior to the polls.

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In contrast, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed the allegations, asserting that the Mahayuti alliance is fully prepared and confident of a landslide victory in the upcoming local body elections. "Shiv Sena is always ready. We work 24/7," Shinde told reporters. As tensions rise, the Opposition’s planned march and meeting with election officials signal a growing battle over electoral integrity in Maharashtra.

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