02 October,2026 08:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar speaks to reporters in Mumbai on Friday. PIC/X
Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar on Friday termed the Cockroach Janata Party's agitation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll a "grammar of anarchy", asserting that objections to the exercise should be raised through legal channels rather than street protests, news agency PTI reported.
Addressing reporters at the BJP's state office, Shelar accused Opposition parties of deliberately attempting to create distrust among people against the SIR process.
He said the Election Commission (EC) had announced the SIR schedule and laid out a clearly defined procedure, and said political parties and citizens had been informed about the process.
Shelar pointed out that procedures relating to applications, claims and objections, hearings, and required documents had been specified, while citizens had also been informed through the media.
"If there are objections to any part of the process, they can be raised through constitutional and legal channels. There is an opportunity to present one's case before the EC, and judicial recourse is also available," he said.
The minister accused the Opposition of trying to create confusion among citizens over an electoral exercise being implemented by administrative officers and employees across the state.
He said the EC is an independent constitutional institution and that questions about its procedures should be raised through institutional mechanisms.
Shelar said Dr Ambedkar had, in his speech to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, stressed the importance of constitutional methods and described resorting to unconstitutional methods when constitutional avenues were available as a "grammar of anarchy".
Shelar also claimed that US President Donald Trump had praised India's electoral process and representatives from 22 countries had appreciated it. He alleged that the Opposition staged protests whenever India's electoral system or government received appreciation internationally.
The CJP held its protest at Shivaji Park despite police denying permission, with thousands gathering to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The outfit has also demanded transparency in the appointment of the CEC and called for freezing of the 2025 voter list, saying it should not be "tampered with further".
Shelar called the CJP's Shivaji Park protest an "unconstitutional agitation" and claimed that the "agitation-driven" outfit can never deliver justice to the people.
The poll body has maintained that its three-member commission took all decisions, including those related to the SIR, unanimously.
State BJP Vice-President Keshav Upadhye, chief spokesperson Navnath Ban, headquarters in-charge Ravindra Anaspure, and co-media in-charge Omprakash Chauhan were also present at the press conference.
(With PTI inputs)
