The issue quickly emerged as a key topic of discussion on polling day, as voting continued across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. Approximately 3.48 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes, with 15,931 candidates contesting.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray, along with other opposition parties, voiced significant concerns, while the administration refuted claims that the ink was easily removable.
The Ink Controversy
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was among the first to bring this issue to light. After voting in the Dadar area, he accused the State Election Commission of bias and claimed the administration was being exploited by the government to sway the election outcome, according to a PTI report.
Thackeray raised questions about the use of the Printing Auxiliary Display Unit (PADU), alleged that the canvassing period was extended to permit the ruling parties to distribute funds, and claimed the ink mark on voters’ fingers could be wiped off with sanitiser.
“They don’t want the Opposition parties. The entire administration is being manipulated by the government. This is not a sign of a healthy democracy,” he stated, urging his party members to remain vigilant against any wrongdoing.
AAP brands polls a ‘farce,’ files complaint
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also chimed in with criticism. Its Mumbai president, Ruben Mascarenhas, shared a video on X demonstrating how the marker ink could reportedly be removed using nail polish remover.
“Ink-marks made on voters’ fingers using ‘marker pens’ in place of government-manufactured indelible ink can easily be wiped off with ‘Nail Polish Remover,’ as shown in this video. This is completely unacceptable. Elections are being trivialized,” he wrote.
The party has lodged a formal complaint with the Maharashtra State Election Commission regarding this issue.
Ink-marks being made on Voter’s fingers by using ‘marker pens’ instead of Govt manufactured indelible ink, is easily wearing off by the simple use of ‘Nail Polish Remover’ as I demonstrate, in this video.
Totally Unacceptable. Elections are being reduced to a farce.… pic.twitter.com/io5nEfUMHx— Ruben Mascarenhas (@rubenmasc) January 15, 2026
Poll commissioner orders inquiry
In response to the controversy, Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare informed CNBC-TV18 that the poll body would conduct an investigation into the claims.
“We are using the same ink that the Election Commission employs in every election. We have been using this ink for a decade. It should not come off,” Waghmare remarked, adding that if it was fading, “maybe some individuals are using acetone.”
When informed that voters claimed the ink was coming off even without acetone, sanitiser, or water, Waghmare insisted the ink should not fade. He mentioned that voters’ names were being documented, which would help counter bogus voting.
When questioned about how bogus voting could be prevented if someone used a false identity, Waghmare did not provide a clear answer but reaffirmed that the ink should remain intact and indicated that the matter would be examined.
Fadnavis counters Opposition
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also addressed the allegations, rejecting what he described as unnecessary panic.
Regarding the marker utilized on voters’ fingers, he stated he too had been marked. “Is it disappearing? The Election Commission should evaluate this issue and consider alternative options, perhaps oil paint, to ensure elections remain impartial. However, creating a stir over every little issue and raising doubts is simply inappropriate,” Fadnavis remarked.
The BMC administration denied the allegations claiming the ink marks could be wiped off, with the BMC chief asserting that no such acknowledgment had been made.
In a statement, the civic body declared that such media reports were factually incorrect, as reported by PTI. “The municipal commissioner has not made any statement whatsoever regarding indelible ink being wiped off post-voting. Hence, there is no factual basis for the reports circulating in the media,” according to the BMC.
Failure Of Voter List Portal
On Thursday, NCP National Spokesperson Anish Gawande criticized the Maharashtra State Election Commission for the voter list portal’s failure. In a post on X, he noted that the official portal, mahasecvoterlist.in, crashed on the morning of the 2026 civic polls.
Gawande pointed out that voters were left searching for their names on printed lists at polling stations, likening the situation to voting in “1995.”
“Voters in Mumbai stuck at polling booths hunting for names in dusty printed lists like it’s 1995. This is Digital India? @MaharashtraSEC, fix your website or stop pretending we’re in the 21st century!” he wrote on X.
Missing Names on Voter Lists
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and his family encountered significant challenges in Navi Mumbai when their names were absent from the electoral roll. Naik and his family members, who traditionally vote at Navi Mumbai School No. 94, had to wait for hours at the polling station. Eventually, they managed to vote at St Mary’s school in the Koparkhairane area.
“My family members and relatives reside in the same building in Navi Mumbai, yet our names were assigned to three different polling centres. If a minister like me can experience a situation where his name is missing from the voters’ list, imagine the challenges faced by regular voters,” Naik said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi reported that her name was missing from the voter list at her usual polling station. Speaking with ANI, she stated that upon arriving at her regular polling station, she was unable to locate her name in the list and was redirected to another polling booth.
“I was directed to another location where I cast my vote. I urge all Mumbaikars to vote in large numbers and to please verify their polling booth details before heading out to vote. It is crucial to support a party that has earned our trust over the years,” she added.
BMC Polls Vote Counting On January 16
Civic commissioner Bhushan Gagrani announced that vote counting for the BMC elections would commence at 10 am on Friday, January 16, as reported by PTI.
In the initial four hours of voting for the BMC election on Thursday, an average of 17.73% of eligible voters cast their ballots. The polls, which began at 7.30 am, are set to continue until 5.30 pm under tight security measures throughout Mumbai.
