Alleging interference in the democratic process under the guise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party staged a protest in Pimpri on Sunday (September 27). Led by the party's city chief Chetan Pawar, workers raised slogans against the Election Commission at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk in Pimpri.
The protesters demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar be dismissed from his post and criminal cases be filed against him. Pawar alleged that while the Election Commission's decisions are expected to be taken by majority or consensus, some decisions were taken unilaterally. He also said that the attempt to reduce the rights of states by centralising the voter list software is dangerous for democracy.
Previously, the revision of voter lists was done through the SSR (Special Summary Revision) method. Setting aside that method, the newly introduced SIR process encroaches upon the rights of ordinary voters and should be cancelled immediately, Pawar asserted.
It was stated that the protest against SIR will now be taken to Mumbai, and a joint march will be taken out in Mumbai on October 4 under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. An appeal was made to other political parties to participate in it.
Former MLA Gautam Chabukswar, along with various party office-bearers and workers, were present on this occasion.
