Last Updated:
Raj Thackeray also accused the ruling government of trying to weaken smaller and regional political outfits through the manipulation of voter rolls.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray. (PTI Image)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday made serious allegations against the Election Commission, claiming that nearly 96 lakh fake voters have been added to the electoral rolls across Maharashtra.
He questioned how the Election Commission plans to conduct local body elections without first verifying the authenticity of the voters’ list.
Addressing booth-level MNS workers in Mumbai, Thackeray warned that if elections are held without removing fake names, it would be “the biggest insult to voters.” He urged his party members to carefully examine and verify voter lists in their respective areas.
Thackeray also accused the ruling government of trying to weaken smaller and regional political outfits through the manipulation of voter rolls.
“An attempt is being made to finish regional parties. I have learned that 96 lakh fake voters have been enrolled in the voters’ list in Maharashtra for the upcoming polls. They had also done this during the state polls as well,” he said.
He claimed that 8 to 10 lakh fake voters were added in Mumbai alone, while another 8 to 8.5 lakh were allegedly included in Thane, Pune, and Nashik.
“They have done it in every village and city. Will polls take place like this in the country? If polls are held like this, then it is an insult to voters in Maharashtra and the country,” Thackeray added.
Raj Thackeray Slams Election Commission
Thackeray also launched a scathing attack for getting “upset” whenever the Opposition questioned the functioning of the Election Commission.
“The Election Commission should show how it conducts the local body polls before cleaning up the electoral rolls. If polls have to be held peacefully, then clean the voters’ list first,” he said.
Without naming the BJP, Thackeray alleged that the ruling party wanted to “win elections by adding fake names.”
“It does not matter whether you cast a vote or not. The match has been fixed. What kind of democracy is this?” he asked.
Reacting to critics who mocked his party’s poor electoral record, Thackeray said that fair elections were impossible under such circumstances.
“How will my party have MLAs and MPs if the voting arithmetic itself is compromised?” he asked.
Recalling the 2024 Assembly elections, Thackeray said, “Everyone knows how the ruling party won the 2024 assembly polls in Maharashtra,” adding that when the BJP was in the Opposition, it too had accused the Election Commission of bias.
Election Commission’s Response
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Election Commission on Saturday clarified that no political party has access to alter voter lists and that all updates and corrections are being handled in a secure and transparent manner.
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her…Read More
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her… Read More
Maharashtra, India, India
October 19, 2025, 16:18 IST
Read More
