Mumbai: At a large rally in Mumbai Saturday, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) emphasised that until the voters’ checklist is clear, there shouldn’t be any native physique polls within the state.

The Supreme Court docket has directed the Maharashtra State Election Fee to finish elections to varied native our bodies, together with the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC), by 31 January 2026.

In the meantime, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar mentioned that the gathering of employees from all of the opposition events reminded him of the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ motion from the late Nineteen Fifties to 1960.

The ‘Satyacha Morcha (Morcha for Reality)’ started from Trend Road and reached the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) headquarters, the place a stage was arrange on a truck for speeches by high opposition leaders.

On the rally, most opposition leaders raised questions over alleged fraud within the voters’ checklist, with Raj Thackeray stating particular examples from Lok Sabha constituencies. Apart from Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Balasaheb Thorat, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Satej Patil, and Aaditya Thackeray have been amongst these current.

Sharad Pawar mentioned, “Taking a look at this morcha, I’m reminded of the previous days…the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ days when morchas was once taken out from Maharashtra. They was once historic. As we speak, trying on the unity right here, I’m reminded of that motion.”

The ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ motion advocated for a separate Marathi-speaking state in western India and central India from 1956 to 1960.

Pawar additionally suggested everybody to miss their political variations and stand collectively. “What occurred in Vidhan Sabha elections was a shock to everybody. It questioned the belief in democracy. As we speak, persons are disturbed in all places. The federal government is abusing energy, and we have now to face all of this. For that, we have to overlook our variations and are available collectively and struggle this out.”

In his speech, Raj Thackeray, armed with containers stuffed with duplicate voters, spoke about doubtful voters. He alleged that within the 2024 Maharashtra elections, practically 4,500 folks from Kalyan Rural, Dombivali, Bhiwandi, and Murbad voted of their constituencies in addition to in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill.

“This morcha is to indicate anger, energy, and carry ahead voices to Delhi. When everyone seems to be saying that they’ve doubts over duplicate voters, why is there a haste for elections?” Raj requested. “Native physique polls haven’t occurred within the final 5 years. How does it matter if the election didn’t occur for one more yr?”

Giving one other occasion, he alleged that within the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency, there are over 65,000 doubtful voters. In Mumbai South, the quantity is over 55,000, he added. He additionally claimed that within the Thane Lok Sabha, over two lakh doubtful voters have been registered.

Uddhav Thackeray, then again, alleged that somebody was attempting to delete his title from the voters’ checklist.

“Just a few days in the past, I used to be informed that I had made an utility to the election fee to confirm my title within the voters’ checklist. This was completed on an utility referred to as Saksham. However in actuality, I by no means made that utility. Somebody gave a improper cellphone quantity and tried to govern the voters’ checklist, and possibly even delete my title. They tried to hack the checklist. I’ve made a written criticism,” mentioned Uddhav Thackeray.

He then appealed to folks to stay vigilant and verify whether or not their names are within the voters’ checklist or not.

The Congress additionally participated within the rally. The social gathering’s state leaders have been current, and Balasaheb Thorat, a senior chief, mentioned on the event that when Rahul Gandhi raised the difficulty, the ECI selected to not reply him.

“Even in Sangamner, my constituency, there are 9,000 bogus voters. We complained, however nothing occurred. The voters’ checklist must be cleaned earlier than elections are held,” Thorat mentioned.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)