Don’t hold Maharashtra local body polls before voters’ list is sanitised: Raj Thackeray to Election Commission

Raj Thackeray even showed videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his tenure as the Gujarat chief minister, where he questioned the actions of the then Election Commission.

By: Express News Service

Updated: October 19, 2025 03:05 PM IST

3 min read

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Sunday asked the State Election Commission (SEC) not to hold the upcoming local body elections without rectification in the voters’ lists and asked his party workers to visit every house across the state to check the voters.

Thackeray slammed the ruling BJP for questioning the Opposition’s demand to rectify mistakes in the voters’ list. He even showed videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his tenure as the Gujarat chief minister, where he questioned the actions of the then Election Commission and warned it not to indulge in fraudulent methods.

“Am I saying anything different from what he (Modi) was saying then? The present ruling side, when it was in Opposition, was saying the same and changed its tune when it came to power,” he said.

Thackeray also showed the videos of ruling MLAs Vilas Bhumare and Sanjay Gaikwad (Shiv Sena), Satish Chavan (NCP) and Mandal Mhatre (BJP), where they claimed and alleged voter list manipulation.

Thackeray’s style of broadcasting videos of PM Modi to point out his promises and reality had become famous during the Lok Sabha 2019 polls, when he did not contest the polls but indirectly supported the Opposition.

“Dare to take the elections without rectification in the voters’ list. I ask all my party workers to start visiting every house in the area. Check the voters’ list and find out how hundreds of people are living in a single house. Do it in your area and also in the state. Help other parties as well for this. I want to reiterate that do not hold elections until the voters’ list is sanitised,” said Thackeray.

The delegation of top opposition leaders met the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and State Election Commissioner (SEC) last week, alleging problems in the voters’ list. The CEO, after the meeting, has already communicated to the Election Commission of India about the Opposition’s demand to hold a Special Summary Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

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Earlier, the MNS chief launched an attack on the Adani Group and the government for allegedly facilitating every project the group wants. He alleged that the government is planning to close down the existing domestic airport (in Santacruz), which is with the Adani group. “By closing this and shifting operations to the upcoming Vadhwan airport in Palghar, the entire land will be made open for development,” he alleged.

“From Lok Sabha to Zilla Parishad, why do they want to keep the power with them? To help these businesses do what they want. How do they keep in power? By violating the voters’ lists. I want all of you to keep this in mind,” said Thackeray.

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