Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 3: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray will jointly lead a protest march in Mumbai on Sunday, October 4, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission's handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The march, named 'Garjana', is being organised amid continuing political criticism of the SIR exercise. The Thackeray brothers have called for Kumar's resignation and have alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process.
Ahead of the march, Raj Thackeray has called a meeting of MNS leaders and office-bearers at Shiv Teerth on Saturday at 11 am. The meeting is expected to focus on preparations for the protest and instructions to party functionaries regarding their participation.
The joint march will now begin from Metro Cinema and proceed towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. The route was changed following a request from the Mumbai Police, with the earlier route having been planned from the Richardson & Cruddas premises in Byculla to the BMC headquarters.
Participants are expected to begin assembling around 10 am, while the march will proceed towards the BMC headquarters, where it will culminate in a public meeting. Leaders from the participating parties are expected to address the gathering.
The organisers have said that no political party flags will be used during the march and have appealed to participants to carry only the national flag. Leaders have also invited citizens and supporters of different political parties to participate. Congress and other opposition parties have extended support to the protest.
During a joint press conference, Raj Thackeray questioned the BJP's reaction to criticism of the Election Commission and said the protest was directed at the functioning of the poll panel rather than against any particular political party. He has also criticised the Election Commission over its handling of the SIR process.
The march comes after a protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Mumbai on Friday demanding Kumar's resignation. Similar protests have also been reported in Delhi, with demonstrations focusing on the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
The Mumbai Police are expected to deploy security personnel and make traffic arrangements along the march route in view of the large gathering.