Maharashtra: MVA Takes To Streets In Ambernath, Demands Removal Of CEC Gyanesh Kumar Amid SIR Row

On Monday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) organized a protest march in Ambernath, Maharashtra, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for his resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) shared photographs of party members carrying flags and posters depicting Kumar on social media platform X. The march, titled #SaveDemocracy, demanded Kumar's resignation and the cancellation of the SIR process, which they claim undermines the values of a constitutional autonomous institution like the Election Commission by infringing on voters' rights.

Among the protesters were MVA office-bearers, workers, and leaders, with thousands of people present. The Nationalist Congress Party's Sharadchandra Pawar tweeted, "The Central Chief Election Commissioner, who has taken a biased stance and trampled upon the values of a constitutional autonomous institution like the Election Commission, should resign, and this process of usurping voters' rights through SIR should be cancelled."

Meanwhile, political leaders from across the country have expressed concerns about the SIR process following an Indian Express investigation that found over 13 crore names were excluded from draft electoral rolls in various states and union territories. Both Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray held a joint protest in South Mumbai on October 4, demanding Kumar's resignation and criticism of the Election Commission's functioning.

The protest started near Metro Cinema, with attendees from Mumbai and other parts of the city, and concluded with a public meeting outside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. Raj Thackeray criticized the government and the Election Commission during the meeting, urging the cancellation of the SIR exercise in Maharashtra and future elections to be conducted using ballot papers.