Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 31: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance are set to take out a massive protest march in Mumbai tomorrow against the Election Commission, demanding that elections be held only after rectifying the alleged errors in the voter lists. Leaders from both camps have warned that if the Election Commission fails to take prompt corrective action, they are prepared to move court.

According to sources cited by TV9 Marathi, both the MNS and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) are in the process of finalising a petition to be filed in court against the Election Commission. Senior leaders from both parties are currently consulting top legal experts before taking a final call within the next two days.

A crucial meeting between MNS leaders and MVA representatives was held in Mumbai on Thursday evening to discuss the agenda of the protest march scheduled for November 1. During the meeting, discussions also revolved around the next steps if the Election Commission remains unresponsive to their demands even after the march.

Three possible options were reportedly debated during the meeting. The first was to consider a boycott of the upcoming elections, but leaders felt such a move would ultimately benefit the ruling parties and fail to deliver the desired impact. The second option was to launch a street agitation against the Commission, but concerns were raised about potential law and order issues. Finally, the leaders agreed that taking the legal route would be the most appropriate course of action.

It was decided that a formal petition will be filed in court against the Election Commission, seeking judicial intervention on the issue of voter list discrepancies. However, leaders also acknowledged the challenges of pursuing a legal battle within the limited timeframe, as the Supreme Court has directed that local body elections in Maharashtra must be completed by January 31, 2026. Given this timeline, it may be difficult for the Election Commission to delay the polls.

If the MNS and the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena proceed with the court petition, they are expected to receive support from Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress Party, both part of the MVA coalition. Leaders of the alliance have reportedly agreed to present a united front in this legal challenge against the Election Commission.

As political temperatures rise in Maharashtra, all eyes are now on the MVA and MNS leadership to see how their protest and possible legal action will shape the state’s electoral landscape in the coming days.