Overview
- Viral videos and complaints from voters, along with accusations by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, alleged that marker-applied finger marks were being wiped off with sanitiser or acetone.
- The State Election Commission said marker kits have long been used for local-body polls, warned that erasing marks to try to vote again is a punishable offence, and stressed that voter records stop re-voting.
- Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said the poll body will investigate the complaints, noting the ink should not come off and that safeguards at booths deter bogus voting.
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation denied reports that its chief acknowledged ink was wiping off, yet said complaints will be probed and instructed staff to apply the mark onto skin as well as the nail.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged the Election Commission to review the issue while dismissing opposition claims as excuse-making, as polling continued across 29 municipal corporations with counting due January 16.