Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched a statewide signature campaign on Monday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, starting with Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The main campaign was taken up at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, to mobilise direct public support for the ouster of the CEC and changes to the electoral processes, besides scrapping the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, brother Tejas and their cousin, MNS functionary Amit Thackeray, along with top leaders from both parties staged a protest march in Dadar this evening followed by a dharna. The other demands include return to Ballot Paper voting, accurate and transparent electoral rolls, and conducting the electoral processes in consultation with all political parties. MNS President Raj Thackeray was scheduled to join the signature campaign later this evening even as the process continued in full swing in different parts of Mumbai and the state. However, party officials claimed that there was a huge and spontaneous response to the drive, but could not provide the details of the signatures collected today. In Navi Mumbai, too A similar campaign was organized near Vashi railway station led by MNS Navi Mumbai President Gajanan Kale, Sachin Kadam and others in which large crowds of men, women and youth were seen signing the demand petitions. As political activists clamoured against Gyanesh Kumar, some wearing T-shirts with slogans demanding his resignation, Kale said the campaign would be extended to other towns in Navi Mumbai. SS (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve led a protest in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, besides reports of agitations coming in different parts of the state. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Founder Abhijeet Dipke – who returned to his hometown and left to pay homage to his deceased grandmother in Hingoli - today fired a fresh salve, accusing the Centre of “waging a war against citizens to protect CEC Gyanesh Kumar.” Today’s signature drive followed a weekend of angry protests against Gyanesh Kumar and the detention of demonstrators in Mumbai, including social activists Tushar Gandhi, his daughter Kasturi, Guddi S.L. Feroze Mithiborwala, actor Imran Khan and over 600 other youth. In tune with Delhi agitation It also coincided with INDIA block agitation in New Delhi led by Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other top Opposition leaders seeking a meeting with the Chief Justice of India. After the request was rejected the Opposition marched to the apex court to file a petition on the same issue this evening. Terming it as “the second battle for Independence”, Congress state President Harshwardhan Sapkal along with all party MPs and MLAs from the state, plus office-bearers, totalling to over 1,000, went to New Delhi to join the INDIA bloc’s ‘Save Democracy’ agitation. “The dictatorial BJP has resolved to crush this democratic struggle. New Delhi has turned into a military cantonment. Over 30,000 police and security personnel have been deployed, 250 trains have been halted or cancelled, and metro services have also been suspended. All this is to suppress the mass movement and conceal the ‘vote-theft’. But until all those responsible for the electoral malpractices are booked, Gyanesh Kumar is removed and arrested, we will not rest,” thundered Sapkal. State leaders joining the INDIA bloc march included AICC Maharashtra In-Charge Dr. Sirivella Prasad, Goa In-Charge Manikrao Thakre, CWC Member M. Arif Naseem Khan, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Balasaheb Thorat, Nitin Raut, Amit Deshmukh, Vishwajeet Kadam, ex-MP Hussain Dalwai, B. M. Sandeep, Rehana Chishti, Bhai Jagtap, Mohan Joshi, Atul Londhe and others.
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