The Maharashtra State Election Commission has launched a probe into viral videos showing voters removing so-called ‘indelible’ ink from their fingers after casting ballots in the ongoing civic polls, warning of action against attempts to spread a false narrative.
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said on Thursday that the videos circulating on social media, showing the ink being wiped off using acetone, were being examined, even as civic authorities rejected claims that voting safeguards had been compromised.
Social media platforms have been flooded with clips of common voters, politicians and media personnel demonstrating the removal of marker ink from their fingers after voting. The videos sparked political controversy and raised questions about election management.
Addressing a press conference, Waghmare said the ‘indelible’ ink used in the civic polls takes time to dry and should not be wiped immediately after application. He said the marker ink supplied by Kores had been in use since 2011 and its chemical composition was in order.
“The viral videos of the marker ink being wiped off are being investigated and case will be filed against those trying to spread a fake narrative,” Waghmare said.
He added that despite the controversy, the same ‘indelible’ ink would be used for the Zilla Parishad elections scheduled next month, based on past experience with marker pens.
Waghmare also said only one complaint of bogus voting had been received so far and that appropriate action had been taken.
Responding to complaints from voters who found their names missing at polling booths where they had voted in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Waghmare said the electoral rolls had been split ward-wise for the civic polls.
“It is the duty of the voter and the candidate to find out in advance,” he said.
Also read: Maharashtra civic polls: Voting on for 29 municipal corporations
“The SEC has been made a soft target. The poll body cannot be blamed for everything. The assembly and Lok Sabha polling booths may not be the same for the ward-wise polling,” Waghmare added.
He also cited the case of state minister Ganesh Naik, who went to the wrong polling booth in Navi Mumbai, leading to a delay in casting his vote.
Earlier, Mumbai Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad posted a video on X showing her party colleague using acetone to wipe off the ink from his finger.
“BMC wiping off accountability? Since morning we have been receiving several reports of how the marker ink being used to show voting has been done, is easily being wiped off. My colleague and his wife here demonstrate how this ink can be easily wiped off with acetone or nail polish remover,” Gaikwad posted.
She also questioned the conduct of the civic polls, citing allegations of voter inducements, missing names on electoral rolls and technical glitches on the SEC website.
“The various last minute bribes to voters going unchecked, the missing names of voters, the SEC website crashing making it difficult for voters to find their names, ink that is being easily wiped. The faith of the people in our democratic process must be protected at all costs but the election commission and the BMC seem to be completely unbothered about it. Shame!” she wrote.
A television journalist also posted a video from his studio demonstrating the removal of ink using acetone after voting in Panvel.
Rejecting the allegations, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said media reports claiming that ink marks were being wiped off during polling were factually incorrect. As per established procedure, indelible ink is applied to one finger of the voter’s left hand at the time of voting on the electronic voting machine at the polling station, the civic body said.
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