21 May,2026 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
(From left) Congress leader Sachin Sawant, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, and NCP (SP) state president and MLC Shashikant Shinde address a press conference after meeting the Maharashtra Election Commissioner, in Mumbai, on Wednesday. PIC/PTI
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) - comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) - has said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Mumbai will be a major challenge and must be handled carefully to ensure that genuine voters are not left out. On Wednesday, an MVA delegation comprising Aaditya Thackeray, Sachin Sawant, and Shashikant Shinde met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra to raise concerns over the SIR process.
In Mumbai, many areas are witnessing large-scale redevelopment. Referring to this issue, Congress leader, Sachin Sawant stated that many residents have shifted to other locations due to redevelopment projects, which could affect voter records. According to Sawant, the CEO did not have a concrete answer to this issue. The election office assured the MVA delegation that a response would be given after the matter is examined.
On Wednesday, MVA leaders met the CEO and urged election authorities to ensure proper implementation of the SIR in voters' list. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Aaditya Thackeray said, "We have asked that the names of genuine citizens shouldn't be deleted from the voters' list." He also claimed that there are allegations of the SIR process influencing the BJP's recent victory in West Bengal.
The ruling BJP and the Opposition Indian National Congress are engaged in a war of words over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Italy. BJP leaders have accused Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of using the word "traitor" while referring to Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Gandhi as a rejected and failed leader, while the BJP's central leadership termed his remarks "anti-India".
