Election Commission row: Thackeray cousins to lead MNS-Sena (UBT) protest march on Oct. 4

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at the latter’s residence in Dadar. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold a joint protest march against the Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 4. The announcement comes amid the ongoing row over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar reagrding dissent within the poll panel.The march will start from Mumbai’s Byculla region to the BMC headquarters in CSMT, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), adding that the next step to the protest will be decided after October 4. The distance between Byculla and BMC is around 5kms.CEC row key highlights - September 29, 2026Days after Mr. Raj Thackeray first called for demonstrations against the ECI, the Thackeray cousins on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) appealed citizen to join the cause and raise voice against the CEC, who has been accused of rigging elections in the name of SIR. Mr. Uddhav Thackeray pointed out that the Opposition and pressure groups are demonstrating and highlighting discrepancies in their own way. “Congress protested on September 29, Cockroach Janta Party is doing on October 2, and we will be doing on October 4. If there is a need we will come together,” he said. While speaking to media persons in Dadar region, Mr. Raj Thackeray reiterated that they have been constantly raising concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the functioning of the Election Commission, yet it was kept unresolved. Mr. Raj Thackeray also invited all parties to join this protest march, while extended support to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP)‘s “Jail Bharo Andolan” protest on October 2, demanding for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.However, the Mumbai Police have denied permission to CJP for a proposed protest on October 2 at Shivaji Park in Dadar against Mr. Kumar. Published - September 29, 2026 03:25 pm IST