Raj Thackeray announces joint MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT) march against EC in Mumbai on October 4 amid electoral roll row

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday announced that his party and the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT will jointly hold a march against the Election Commission in Mumbai on October 4The announcement was made at a joint press conference in Mumbai attended by Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray MNS chief Raj Thackeray Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray MNS leader Amit Thackeray and Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay RautRaj Thackeray said the two parties would invite other political parties to participate in the marchWe will invite all parties for the morcha The ruling parties are also welcome Raj Thackeray saidThe proposed demonstration comes amid criticism from several Opposition parties over the Election Commissions handling of the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls The controversy has also involved questions over internal objections reportedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek JoshiOpposition parties raise concerns over electoral roll revisionThe proposed demonstration comes amid criticism from several Opposition parties over the Election Commissions handling of the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls The controversy has also involved questions over internal objections reportedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek JoshiSeveral Opposition parties have criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise and have demanded his resignationThe criticism intensified after a report by The Indian Express said Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10month period to decisions and orders concerning electoral rolls voter registration and related systems The report said some of the objections questioned whether certain measures had been authorisedThe Election Commission however has rejected suggestions that there was a disagreement over its final decisions The poll body has said that individual observations and objections during the decisionmaking process did not amount to dissent over the decisions ultimately taken by the CommissionElection Commission says SIR decisions were unanimousThe Election Commission has stated that decisions taken by the threemember poll panel including those concerning the SIR of electoral rolls were unanimous and had the approval of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sandhu and JoshiThe Commission has also maintained that the issues raised by the two election commissioners related to operational or draftstage matters and formed part of the administrative process before final decisions were takenThe differing accounts over the internal decisionmaking process have become a major point of contention between the poll panel and Opposition partiesSanjay Raut announces protest against CECSpeaking at the press conference Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut said the two parties had decided to organise the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh KumarUnder the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray and MNS Chief Raj Thackeray we have decided to hold a protest march on October 4 again we have decided to hold a protest in Mumbai against Chief of Election commission of India Gyanesh KumarRaut was among the Shiv Sena UBT and MNS leaders who addressed the press conference along with the two Thackeray brothersMarch to begin from Byculla and end at BMC headquartersRaj Thackeray said the October 4 march would begin from Byculla and proceed towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters where the leaders would address the gatheringldquoI have been raising the issue of EVMs since 201718 and I will speak about it in detail on October 4 The further course of action will be decided after the morcha We would like to invite all political parties to join us in the morcha If those in power also want to join they are welcome to participate said Raj ThackerayRaj Thackerays remarks indicate that the October 4 demonstration will also provide a platform for him to elaborate on his longstanding concerns regarding electronic voting machines He said the next course of action would be decided after the marchThe proposed protest comes at a time when the Opposition has stepped up its criticism of the Election Commission over the electoral roll revision exercise and the functioning of the poll panelThackeray brothers appeal for national flags at marchBoth Thackeray brothers appealed to their party workers not to carry party flags during the morcha and instead carry the Indian national flagThe appeal comes as the two parties prepare to jointly mobilise their workers for the October 4 demonstration with the leadership seeking participation from other political parties as wellShiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray said ldquoWe are extending our full support to the protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party All those who fight to save democracy will have our supportrdquoCongress holds protests over CECThe Congress on Monday held protests in several parts of the country against Kumar amid the controversy surrounding the SIR exerciseThe party has called for action against the Chief Election Commissioner and said its protests would continue until its demands are addressed The developments have added to the wider political debate over the electoral roll revision process and the functioning of the Election Commission