Maharashtra civic polls: Opposition raises concerns over marker pens used instead of indelible ink, BMC to probe complaints

Amid the ongoing polls for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra on Thursday (January 15, 2026), suspicion and allegations mounted from the voters over the alleged use of marker pens being applied on voters’ fingers to indicate that they have cast their vote instead of indelible ink.

Also read | Follow Maharashtra civic polls LIVE:

As per procedure, polling staff apply indelible ink to one finger of the voter’s left hand at the time of casting the vote on the electronic voting machine at the polling station.

Maharashta Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray questioned the controversy around the indelible ink and said, “The Election Commission hasn’t shown parties the EVM machines. We won’t allow this. The ink on the finger after voting can be removed with a sanitiser. Instead of ink, pens are being used after voting.”

“The entire administration is working for the ruling party. This isn’t a sign of good democracy. This isn’t what we call governance. Everyone should be alert. There’s a limit to misusing power. Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters should keep an eye on those re-voting and wiping off the ink,” Mr. Thackeray said.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the pen marker is used in place of indelible ink on the voter’s finger, and further alleged that it can be removed using nail polish remover.

Meanwhile, reacting to the reports, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, “We will probe all the complaints related to the use of ink. Preliminary observation is that the ink on the nail is removable, but the ink on the skin doesn’t get erased.”

According to the State Election Commission, a total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates contesting 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations. A total of 39,092 polling centres have been set up across the state.