Opposition Fury Erupts: Aaditya Thackeray Leads Charge Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Aaditya Thackeray, a prominent leader from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), has sharply criticized the BJP-led Centre as opposition parties across India escalate protests and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The growing uproar, fueled by allegations of 'Vote Chori' and manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has seen widespread demonstrations in both Delhi and Maharashtra over the past week. This comes after reports revealed internal dissent within the Election Commission of India (ECI), with two other election commissioners formally objecting to several decisions. The core of the controversy stems from opposition claims that the ongoing SIR process is systematically removing eligible voters and altering voter lists to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. These concerns are amplified by investigative reports from late September 2026, which indicated that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded at least 14 objections over 10 months to decisions allegedly made without their full knowledge by CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Adding to the pressure, the Supreme Court of India is now reviewing a plea to recall its split verdict on a 2023 law that controversially removed the Chief Justice of India from the panel selecting election commissioners, a move critics say gives the government too much control. The protests, spearheaded by groups like the INDIA bloc, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, show no signs of slowing down, with leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray joining forces in Mumbai. The Election Commission, while denying any wrongdoing and insisting its decisions are unanimous, faces a tough challenge to restore public trust. With the Supreme Court now involved in reviewing the very mechanism of appointing election commissioners, the outcome could reshape India electoral landscape and its democratic institutions.