Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 12: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of party leaders at his residence, Shivteerth, in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the party’s next course of action following Sunday’s protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
The meeting is scheduled for 11 am amid preparations for fresh protests in the Dadar area over the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
On Sunday, CJP activists staged a protest near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar, drawing comparisons with demonstrations held in Delhi. Police detained several protesters, triggering a confrontation. Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray intervened and stopped the police vehicle carrying the detained protesters. Demonstrators also staged a sit-in outside Shivaji Park police station, following which the detained activists were released.
The MNS is scheduled to launch a signature campaign on Monday, seeking Kumar’s resignation. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has planned a silent protest against what it describes as suppression. The party has appealed to citizens to participate in the demonstration carrying the national flag.
The protests come amid a wider political dispute over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The CJP, Congress and other Opposition parties have alleged that changes to the process under Kumar have resulted in the deletion of large numbers of voters, depriving them of their voting rights. The Election Commission’s position on the allegations has not been detailed in the supplied report.
The controversy has intensified following a report in an English-language newspaper claiming that two other Election Commissioners had raised concerns over Kumar allegedly disregarding their objections.
Opposition protests have also been taking place in Delhi. INDIA bloc MPs had demonstrated outside the Election Commission’s office demanding Kumar’s resignation, while Congress MPs were preparing to approach the Supreme Court over the issue.
MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said the party would begin the signature campaign across locations on Monday morning, urging ordinary citizens to participate. He indicated that the campaign would be the first phase of the party’s programme, with further steps to be announced before Dussehra.