Ink Tampering Allegations Fuel Controversy in Maharashtra Civic Polls

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab has raised serious allegations about tampering with indelible ink in the BMC elections, adding to existing concerns about the electoral process raised by Uddhav Thackeray. The Maharashtra State Election Commission has refuted these claims, asserting the ink’s authenticity and proper application.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab voiced concerns on Thursday about possible tampering with the indelible ink used in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, suspecting it of being easily removable. His claims join a chorus of criticisms by opposition leaders scrutinizing the state's electoral procedures.

In a conversation with ANI, Parab noted, "This is unprecedented; I've never seen the ink vanish like this. This marker differs greatly from the usual election ink and can be wiped off, indicating potential tampering." Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray cited complaints about missing voter names and outdated EVMs.

Maharashtra State Election Commissioner DT Waghmare dismissed allegations regarding the ink, clarifying it as indelible and similar to what's used federally. Waghmare noted the ink's marker form, in use since 2011, dries quickly and adheres to stringent verification standards. Civic polling commenced at 7:30 AM across 29 local bodies, with vote counting slated for January 16.