Uddhav Thackeray seeks sacking and imprisonment of Gyanesh Kumar; re-election for Maharashtra, TN, West Bengal
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has called for the removal and imprisonment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging bias and the 'murder of democracy.' He further demanded that future elections be conducted using paper ballots and that recent election results in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal be annulled.
Why it matters
This reflects significant political instability and a growing crisis of confidence in India's electoral institutions among opposition parties.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) sought the removal and imprisonment of Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar . He also sought re-election in the States of Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu and West Bengal . He said that all future elections should be held on ballot papers.
“These elections should be held on ballot paper. Gyanesh Kumar should be jailed immediately. All the wrong decisions of the Election Commission should be revoked. All the elections where Gyanesh Kumar had intervened should be held again. I appeal to all the opposition parties to come together to save democracy,” he said at a press conference at his residence, Matoshree, in Mumbai. He accused Mr. Kumar of working on the instructions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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