Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Fadnavis compared the two leaders to the Bollywood film character of Ghajinis who would lose his memory and questioned their criticism of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The remarks came just a day after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray had appeared together at the “Virat Garjana Morcha” in Mumbai. The joint appearance was surprising as the Thackeray cousins have been political foes for years, but recently they have spoken on issues like the Hindi language controversy and electoral roll concerns. The Mumbai march also raised demands for the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and suspension of SIR exercise in Maharashtra.
Why Fadnavis Used The ‘Ghajini’ Reference
Fadnavis’s “Ghajini” statement was intended to draw attention for what he said is a contradiction in the opposition’s argument. Gyanesh Kumar became Chief Election Commissioner in 2025, while the Maharashtra Assembly elections were held in 2024. He also mentioned that the SIR exercise in Maharashtra is taking place in 2026.
The Maharashtra CM asked whether the 2026 SIR or an election official who assumed the CEC position in 2025 could have influenced the 2024 Maharashtra election. He used the “Ghajini” reference to suggest that the Thackeray cousins were overlooking the chronology of these events.
Fadnavis also claimed that the opposition leaders were using their frustration to target the Election Commission after electoral defeats. He also described the Mumbai march as an effort to regain political ground and questioned the level of public participation claimed by the organisers. These were Fadnavis’ political formulations of the protest and its effect.
What Was The Virat Garjana Morcha About?
The “Virat Garjana Morcha” was organised by opposition parties in Maharashtra to raise concerns about the Election Commission and the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led the march from Metro Cinema to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters in south Mumbai.
Congress leaders and representatives of Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) also participated. The protesters wanted the resignation or removal of Gyanesh Kumar and called for the SIR exercise in Maharashtra to be abolished. Raj Thackeray called for the end of electronic voting machines and the return of ballot-paper voting.
Uddhav Thackeray also criticised the Election Commission over the electoral roll revision process. The opposition has claimed that the SIR could result in eligible voters being excluded from electoral rolls, while the Election Commission has defended the exercise as a process to identify and remove ineligible or otherwise unverified entries.
Why SIR Has Become A Major Political Issue
In Maharashtra and other parts of India, Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls has become a point of political confrontation. The scale of the changes in Maharashtra has added to the debate.
More than 2.06 crore electors, or nearly 21.14 per cent of Maharashtra’s previous voter base, didn’t appear in the draft electoral rolls after the SIR exercise. Election officials attributed the missing entries to enumeration forms that could not be collected because individuals were untraceable, deceased or had shifted residence. Eligible voters were given the opportunity to file claims and objections.
Opposition parties view the scale of the exclusions as an issue for electoral participation. The Election Commission and BJP have rejected claims that the process is designed to disenfranchise eligible voters. Reuters also reported that the Election Commission has defended the revision process and opposition groups have argued that eligible voters could be affected.
Uddhav And Raj Thackeray’s Unusual Political Unity
The protest also highlighted the changing relationship between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The two cousins have been known as separate political formations since Uddhav headed up the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj headed up the MNS.
But their recent coordination has brought them together on a few issues. Their joint appearance at the Mumbai protest showed a rare political alignment, especially on electoral reforms and the SIR exercise.
The two leaders also gave opposition to the Election Commission at the rally as part of a larger debate about electoral transparency. Raj Thackeray called for the cancellation of SIR and advocated a return to paper elections while Uddhav spoke of the CEC and concern over voting rights.
Fadnavis Versus The Thackeray Cousins
Fadnavis’s criticism adds another layer to the political struggle over SIR. Rather than treating the protest merely as an administrative dispute, the Maharashtra CM framed it as an attempt by the opposition to recover lost political ground.
His “Ghajini” comment was thus not merely a reference to a popular film. It was to challenge the opposition’s timeline and allegations regarding its 2024 Maharashtra election. By listing dates for the 2024 election, Kumar’s appointment in 2025, and SIR in 2026, Fadnavis sought to question the logic behind the current election-roll exercise being related to the previous state election.
The Thackeray-led opposition, however, has continued to frame SIR as an election transparency and voter rights issue. Their Mumbai rally brought together various opposition parties and turned the revision exercise into a larger political campaign against the Election Commission.
What Happens Next?
Political battles are likely to continue with SIR and the electoral-roll revision process. The opposition has called for greater transparency and accountability and the Election Commission says it is merely a form of electoral roll updating to make sure that eligible voters are there.
The controversy also shows how the political coordination between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray is developing. Their cooperation on SIR follows previous agreements on other issues, but the longer term consequences of their political understanding are unclear.
For now, Fadnavis’ “Ghajini” jibe has added a new verbal challenge to an already heated debate. But the main issue is the conflict over electoral roll revision, voter inclusion and the Election Commission’s role. With political parties still going to fight for and against the SIR process, the debate will be present in Maharashtra’s political debate.
