Full Breakdown
Uddhav Thackeray Calls for Regime Change at Shiv Sena’s 60th Dussehra Rally
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Core Event
On October 20, 2026, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT)) chief Uddhav Thackeray addressed the party’s annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai. He framed youth-led protests over alleged electoral-roll irregularities as a democratic right and accused the government of “vote chori,” especially against new voters. Thackeray also reiterated the party’s claim to the saffron (Bhagwa) identity and called for the flag to be unfurled at both the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and the Red Fort in Delhi.
Background & Context
The Shiv Sena was founded on June 19, 1966 by Bal Thackeray, and its first Dussehra rally was held on October 30, 1966. The 2026 gathering marked the 60th anniversary of that tradition. A 2022 split created two rival factions: Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), which retained the historic venue, and Eknath Shinde’s faction, which staged its rally at the NESCO grounds in Goregaon. Since mid-2024, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and allied student groups have organised protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission says the SIR removed more than 13 crore names to eliminate duplicate or ineligible entries, while Thackeray and supporters allege systematic disenfranchisement of new voters.
Data & Statistics
- 13 crore names deleted from draft electoral rolls during the SIR exercise.
- 60 years since the first Shiv Sena Dussehra rally.
- In the 2024 Maharashtra assembly election, the Shinde-led faction won 57 seats, while the UBT faction secured 20 seats.
Official Statements & Responses
Thackeray asserted that youth protests are a constitutional right, stating that “vote chori” is occurring “with everyone, especially new voters.” He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of driving citizens into financial hardship and warned that police actions against demonstrators in Delhi amount to “beating them like wolves.” He linked the protests to historic Indian freedom fighters and demanded that the saffron flag be raised at the Red Fort as a symbol of the party’s identity.
Criticism & Opposition
He warned that the Modi government is expected to be re-elected in 2029 and urged the opposition to win public support through the ballot box.
— Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra chief minister (quote q8)
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No independent audit of the roll-cleaning process has been cited, leaving a gap between political accusations and official procedural justification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Protest is the right of youth because ‘vote chori’ is happening with everyone, especially new voters,” — Uddhav Thackeray (quote q3)
- “Bhagwa (saffron) is our identity; no one can steal our identity,” — Uddhav Thackeray (quote q4)
- “Youth who have hit the streets are not Naxalites, they are revolutionaries seeking their rights,” — Uddhav Thackeray (quote q5)
- “We have to unfurl Bhagwa (saffron flag) not only atop Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha but also on Lal Qila,” — Uddhav Thackeray (quote q1)
- “Yes, we are fighting for a regime change in the country.” — Uddhav Thackeray (quote q9)
- “Police are assaulting youth and women, tearing their clothes. Such a regime needs to be buried,” — Uddhav Thackeray (quote q13)
What’s Next
Thackeray indicated that the “acche din” promised after a regime change will be pursued through continued mobilisation of the party’s base and further criticism of the BJP-led centre. No specific legislative or electoral timetable was announced, leaving the contest to unfold in the lead-up to the next general election.