Mumbai, October 19, 2025 – Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has ignited a major controversy by alleging that the state's electoral rolls contain a staggering 96 lakh fake voters. Addressing party workers in Mumbai on Sunday, Thackeray challenged the Election Commission of India (ECI), questioning the integrity of upcoming local body polls if the voter lists are not thoroughly cleaned.

Thackeray stated that these "fake" voters have been added to the electoral rolls in major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Thane. He claimed that this manipulation is a deliberate attempt to undermine regional parties and predetermine election outcomes. "Why should candidates contest or people vote if the results are already fixed? This is an insult to voters and democracy," Thackeray asserted, calling it a "dangerous conspiracy" against the democratic system. He urged his party workers to verify voter lists, going door-to-door to cross-check the electoral rolls.

The MNS chief's allegations come amidst growing concerns from opposition parties regarding irregularities in Maharashtra's voter lists. For months, reports of errors and inconsistencies have surfaced, with leaders like Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and others repeatedly raising concerns. Opposition parties have pointed to issues such as duplicate voter entries, faulty EPIC numbers, instances of multiple voters registered at the same address, and deceased voters remaining on the rolls. They have also questioned the deletion of names without proper explanation and the lack of transparency in updating voter lists.

Adding to the controversy, Thackeray revived his famous line "Lav re tho video" and played old clips of Narendra Modi and current Maharashtra MLAs discussing irregularities in voter lists. He questioned the fairness of the electoral process, highlighting unusual changes in veteran leader Balasaheb Thorat's margin and suggesting the SEC approach the Supreme Court if it cannot manage the process.

In response to the mounting pressure, Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), S. Chokkalingam, has directed district election officers to investigate the alleged irregularities. The chief electoral office has also issued show-cause notices to several district authorities following the detection of anomalies in the electoral rolls. The ECI is reportedly preparing a rebuttal to the opposition's claims, with sources suggesting that several claims have been found inaccurate.

Opposition leaders have collectively demanded that the upcoming local body elections be postponed until the voter lists are cleaned and made transparent. They have also requested that voter lists be made available in the public domain and shared with political parties. Some have called for the use of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines or a return to traditional ballot papers to ensure fair elections. Uddhav Thackeray has even stated a complete loss of faith in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), declaring that the Election Commission is not a "Harishchandra" (a paragon of truth).

The opposition has also raised concerns about the cut-off date for voter eligibility, arguing that those turning 18 after July 1 should also be allowed to vote. They are urging an amendment to the rule so that anyone turning 18 before the election announcement is eligible.

While opposition parties are united in their call for voter list rectification, there are differing views on whether to delay the elections. Some Shiv Sena leaders, while acknowledging errors in the voter lists, have expressed reservations about postponing the polls, citing the long delay in holding local body elections.

The controversy surrounding the voter lists has created a political storm in Maharashtra, with accusations and counter-accusations flying between the ruling and opposition parties. The State Election Commission faces immense pressure to address the alleged irregularities and ensure fair and transparent elections. The outcome of this situation remains to be seen, but it is clear that the integrity of the electoral process in Maharashtra is under intense scrutiny.