Mumbai: A controversy has erupted in Maharashtra amid voting for 29 municipal corporations, including the Mumbai BMC elections, over the use of pens instead of traditional indelible ink on voters’ fingers.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray raised concerns in Mumbai, alleging that the Election Commission replaced the standard voting ink with a new type of pen. “Complaints are emerging about this new pen. If a voter uses hand sanitizer, the ink disappears. The only option left is to apply the ink, step outside, wipe it off, and re-enter to vote again. This new practice reflects how the government is willing to adopt any method to retain power. Such manipulations cannot be called fair elections,” Thackeray said. He appealed to the public, MNS, and Matoshree Sena workers to remain vigilant. He also claimed that one person was caught voting twice.
However, Chief Minister Eknath Fadnavis dismissed Thackeray’s allegations during an event in Nagpur, demonstrating on his own finger that the ink was intact. He stated, “It is not correct to make baseless accusations.”
The debate over the ink—or pen—has spread from Mumbai to Pune. Rohit Pawar, NCP leader and MLA, shared a video claiming that the ink on voters’ fingers was being wiped off. According to media reports, NCP workers in Pune reportedly found bottles in a BJP office, allegedly being used to erase ink marks from voters who had already cast their votes, enabling them to vote again. The NCP workers confiscated the bottles. Rupali Chakankar, an NCP leader and Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, also supported these allegations.
Meanwhile, social media is buzzing with images and videos showing fingers without visible ink marks. Dr. Abhinav Wagh shared a photo highlighting this issue.
The results of the Maharashtra municipal elections, which include 29 municipal corporations and 2,869 seats contested by 15,391 candidates, are scheduled to be announced on 16 January 2026.