Voting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Thursday was overshadowed by controversy after social media videos claimed that the indelible ink applied to voters’ fingers could be removed using acetone or nail polish remover. The allegations triggered sharp political reactions and prompted the State Election Commission (SEC) to step in with a clarification and order an inquiry.
Several videos circulated online showing individuals allegedly wiping off the ink mark after applying acetone or washing their hands repeatedly. Mumbai Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad shared one such video, alleging serious lapses in election management and questioning transparency. She claimed that easily removable ink, missing voter names, website crashes, and unchecked violations were eroding public trust in the democratic process.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) rejected the allegations, stating that reports of the ink being wiped off were incorrect. However, as the issue gained traction, the SEC announced that a probe had been ordered into the complaints.
In an official statement, the SEC warned that attempts to remove indelible ink and vote again are illegal. It clarified that once a vote is cast, it is recorded, and even if the ink mark is removed, the voter cannot vote again. Polling staff have been instructed to prevent any repeat voting and to take action where necessary.
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare later said that claims about acetone or nail polish removing the ink were false. He explained that the same indelible ink has been in use since 2011, manufactured by the same company with the same composition. According to him, the ink dries within 10–12 seconds and cannot be wiped off once set. He also warned that circulating misleading videos could invite legal action.
The controversy drew political reactions as well. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray alleged that traditional indelible ink had been replaced with easily removable marker pens, raising fears of repeat voting. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the claims, saying the opposition was unnecessarily creating controversy and added that the Election Commission could review the matter if needed.
As polling continued, the SEC reiterated that safeguards were in place to prevent malpractice and assured voters that the integrity of the electoral process would be protected.