Raj Thackeray Backs Opposition Protest, Demands Independent Probe Into ECI
Public Lokpal
September 24, 2026
Raj Thackeray Backs Opposition Protest, Demands Independent Probe Into ECI
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray launched a fierce attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and a high-level independent probe into the poll panel's operations.
Thackeray’s sharp remarks came in the wake of investigative reports revealing internal dissent within the commission, where two Election Commissioners reportedly recorded written objections on multiple occasions over voter-roll management and software modifications. Backing nationwide opposition concerns, Thackeray alleged that the ECI's constitutional autonomy has been severely compromised to favor the ruling dispensation.
Citing contentious decisions—such as mass legal appeals and voter disenfranchisement issues—he asserted that these disclosures validate suspicions of structural manipulation. Escalating his stance, Thackeray called for the total scrapping of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), urging opposition parties to unite and launch a massive nationwide movement demanding a return to traditional paper ballots to restore integrity to India's democratic framework.