Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 15: Responding to allegations that some voters were wiping ink off their fingers after casting ballots, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday cautioned that such acts amount to serious electoral misconduct and could invite legal consequences.

The SEC clarified that erasing the ink does not allow a person to vote again, as multiple safeguards are already in place. Each voter’s participation is digitally recorded immediately after voting, making repeat voting impossible regardless of whether the ink mark is removed. The Commission said officials across polling centres have been reminded to remain alert and strictly monitor any suspicious activity.

In an official statement, the SEC recalled that it had issued detailed guidelines in November 2011 regarding the use of marker pens for marking voters’ fingers, which have since been consistently used in local body elections. These guidelines specify that the ink must be applied firmly and repeatedly—three to four strokes over the nail and the skin above it—to ensure a clear and lasting mark. The instructions are also printed directly on the marker pens.

Urging voters to uphold democratic values, the Commission appealed to citizens not to indulge in any attempt to erase the ink or create confusion during the polling process.

The clarification came after opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Congress, raised objections and accused the ruling alliance of electoral manipulation. MNS chief Raj Thackeray alleged that the government was determined to win elections by any means and claimed that the use of marker pens instead of traditional indelible ink had made it easier to remove the mark using sanitiser.

Thackeray launched a sharp attack on both the state government and the Election Commission, accusing them of undermining democratic principles and calling elections conducted under such circumstances fraudulent.

Reacting to the controversy, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the electoral process, stating that decisions related to election conduct rest solely with the Election Commission. He noted that marker pens have been used earlier as well and suggested that if concerns persist, the Commission could consider alternative marking methods to strengthen transparency.

“The Election Commission is empowered to decide the procedure. If there are doubts, they can change the marking method. In fact, they could even use oil paint if needed,” Fadnavis said.