Aaditya Thackeray questions voter-list accuracy ahead of BMC polls, flags major irregularities
Aaditya Thackeray
Aaditya Thackeray has raised concerns over serious errors in the draft Mumbai voter list, alleging duplicate names, suspicious additions and a compromised electoral process.
Mumbai, December 2, 2025 – Aaditya Thackeray has raised sharp questions about the credibility of the draft voter list released for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. After examining the list published by the State Election Commission on November 20, Thackeray alleged that the roll contains large-scale errors, including duplicate entries and names of individuals who are either deceased or no longer living in the city.
He claimed that the list includes shocking examples such as a candidate’s name appearing seven times and another appearing eight times. Thackeray argued that such anomalies indicate serious lapses in the preparation of the voter roll. He said that these irregularities cast doubt on the fairness of the upcoming election and accused authorities of neglecting due diligence. His team submitted a complaint to the commission demanding a full review of the list.
Thackeray said the presence of duplicate voters and questionable new entries shows a disturbing lack of verification. He insisted that door-to-door checks must be carried out before finalising the rolls. According to him, leaving the list unchanged would amount to allowing electoral malpractice. He warned that his party would consider legal action if the commission failed to act quickly.
The issue has sparked wider political debate. Opposition leaders argue that a flawed voter list in a city as politically significant as Mumbai could influence outcomes across several wards. They say that the problem is not limited to a few mistakes but appears systemic, given the number of duplicate entries reported.
Reports have suggested that several constituencies have unusually high numbers of new registrations, many of which residents claim they cannot verify at the local level. Some civic activists have also stepped in, saying the errors undermine confidence in the democratic process and demand immediate correction.
The election commission has acknowledged receiving representations from multiple parties and has said it will examine the objections. However, officials have also indicated that time is limited, given the ongoing election schedule and administrative workload. This has raised concerns that the corrections may not be completed before the final list is published.
For voters, the situation adds confusion and uncertainty. A clean and accurate voter list is central to ensuring a fair election, and any doubts about its reliability weaken public trust. With more than 200 wards in Mumbai, even small mistakes can influence results in closely contested areas.
Political observers say this controversy arrives at a sensitive moment. BMC elections are one of the most hotly watched polls in Maharashtra, given the corporation’s massive budget and influence on city infrastructure. Allegations of irregularities in the voter roll give the opposition fresh ammunition and place pressure squarely on the election commission to handle the review with transparency.
Thackeray has urged the commission to treat the issue with urgency and seriousness. He said that a strong civic democracy depends on clean voter rolls and that the integrity of the election should not be compromised for administrative convenience.
The coming days will determine whether the commission orders revisions or stands by the existing list. Either way, the dispute has already added a new layer of tension to Mumbai’s political climate ahead of the BMC polls.
