MNS chief Raj Thackeray accuses the Election Commission of adding 96 lakh fake voters to Maharashtra’s rolls and urges a cleanup before local body elections. He also renews criticism of PM Modi and ruling allies.

In a sharp political salvo, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray accused the Election Commission of allowing nearly 96 lakh fake names to creep into the state’s voter rolls. Speaking at a rally in Goregaon, Mumbai, Thackeray demanded that the Commission immediately verify and correct the lists before conducting local body elections, warning that manipulated rolls make the entire democratic process meaningless.

Thackeray claimed the alleged irregularities were widespread — with 8–10 lakh fake entries in Mumbai alone, and similarly inflated numbers reported from Thane, Pune, and Nashik. He said such tampering effectively predetermines election results, turning democracy into what he called a “fixed contest.”

His criticism extended to the BJP and its allies, including the factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, accusing them of benefiting from these distortions. Questioning why ruling parties reacted defensively, he suggested their discomfort revealed “guilty knowledge” of the irregularities.

During his address, Thackeray also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, screening an old video of Modi as opposition leader, where he had accused the Election Commission of bias. Thackeray pointed out the irony, saying the BJP now stood accused of the very practices it once condemned.

He reminded supporters that he had raised similar concerns as far back as 2016–17, when doubts over electronic voting machines and voter rolls first surfaced. The Election Commission has not yet responded to his claims.

Analysis: Raj Thackeray’s allegations come at a politically sensitive time, as Maharashtra gears up for local elections. His attack blends populist outrage with a warning about the erosion of public faith in institutions. If even partly true, such large-scale discrepancies could affect voter trust and turnout, particularly in urban centres where regional parties like the MNS depend on ground-level mobilisation. For voters, Thackeray’s call underscores the growing need to verify their own registration — a simple but often overlooked step in defending the integrity of elections.