Raj Thackeray calls for SIR rollback, nationwide movement for paper ballots

In a statement on X, MNS chief Raj Thackeray accused the ruling party of leveraging key institutional figures to maintain an “endless grip on power”. FILE PIC

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging that the voter roll verification process was being used to manipulate electoral outcomes.

He also called for a nationwide movement by opposition parties to bring back paper ballot voting instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

In a statement on X, Thackeray accused the ruling party of leveraging key institutional figures to maintain an "endless grip on power" and called upon opposition parties across the country to unite for a massive agitation to bring back paper ballots.

MNS chief targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar over SIR row

Drawing a mythological parallel, Thackeray remarked, "‘Sant Dnyaneshwar' once made a buffalo recite the Vedas; now, the buffaloes in power are getting their version of the Vedas recited through this 'Gyanesh.'"

The MNS chief also highlighted that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has remained silent over the past two days amid growing public and political scrutiny regarding alleged internal rifts and administrative decisions within the Election Commission.

Calling the SIR exercise a "new weapon" deployed since 2025 to manipulate voter lists, Thackeray said serious concerns and irregularities were now being raised even from within the Election Commission itself.

Raj Thackeray calls for return to paper ballot voting

Emphasising his opposition to electronic voting systems, Thackeray urged all political parties to join hands in a national movement demanding that all future elections be conducted strictly using traditional paper ballots.

"The SIR currently underway should be completely cancelled. An impartial probe must be conducted into the irregularities that have surfaced, and only then should a fresh verification process be undertaken," he said.

Thackeray urged all Opposition parties to unite against the exercise, arguing that electoral transparency could be ensured only through ballot paper voting.

"Only when we scrap this compromised process and move back to ballot paper voting will the absolute truth behind this long-standing hold on power finally be laid bare," Thackeray added.

Thackeray's statement comes amid continued political scrutiny of the SIR exercise and recent reports of differences within the Election Commission. The poll body, however, has said that the decisions taken during the past year were unanimous.

(With IANS inputs)