Sanjay Shirsat Dismisses Thackeray Cousins' Protest as Political Theater

Shirsat characterized the demonstration as a desperate bid to project that the "tiger is still alive" in Mumbai politics, despite shifting allegiances across the state. The protest, which centered on demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll revisions, was dismissed by the minister as a publicity exercise rather than a legitimate grievance. He pointed to the Thackeray faction's media outlets, which have touted a supposed "Thackeray wave" as evidence that the event was staged for self-promotion.

The minister challenged the opposition to move beyond public rallies, suggesting that if they truly believe the electoral process is compromised, they should present their evidence in court or the Lok Sabha. He further accused opposition parties, particularly the Congress, of reflexively questioning the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines only when faced with potential defeat. While the opposition claims the ongoing Special Intensive Revision is a tool for disenfranchisement, the Election Commission maintains it is a standard administrative procedure to purge duplicates and update voter databases. Shirsat concluded that the agitation stems from a rattled opposition watching their traditional support base among younger voters fracture toward emerging political movements.