Opposition parties in Maharashtra, united under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and joined by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), staged a protest march in Mumbai on Saturday against alleged irregularities in the state’s voter list, accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of inaction. Dubbed the *Satyacha Morcha* (March for Truth), the demonstration began at Fashion Street in south Mumbai and concluded at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters, drawing senior leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, MNS president Raj Thackeray, and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat.

The Opposition claims the voter list contains widespread discrepancies—multiple entries for the same individual, wrongful deletions of legitimate voters, and suspicious additions—potentially favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Leaders argue that such anomalies undermine electoral integrity and have demanded a thorough audit and rectification before any local body elections proceed. The march comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of municipal polls, including the high-stakes BMC election, which has been delayed since 2022 due to ward delimitation and reservation disputes.

Participants gathered in large numbers despite the afternoon heat, carrying banners and chanting slogans calling for transparency and accountability from the ECI. At the concluding rally outside the BMC headquarters, speakers reiterated that free and fair elections are impossible without a clean voter roll. The alliance warned that proceeding with polls under the current list would erode public trust in democratic institutions, particularly in urban centres where voter turnout and accuracy are critical.

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The protest reflects deepening mistrust between Maharashtra’s Opposition and the electoral authorities, especially after similar concerns were raised during the 2024 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The MVA and MNS have jointly submitted memoranda to the ECI with evidence of irregularities and are pushing for a special verification drive. With local body elections expected to be announced soon, the agitation signals a broader campaign to ensure electoral reforms, as political parties across the spectrum gear up for a fiercely contested civic battle in India’s financial capital.

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