Mumbai: With elections to 29 municipal companies underway Thursday in Maharashtra, there have been complaints, particularly in Mumbai, in regards to the State Election Fee (SEC) utilizing indelible-ink-based marker pens, as a substitute of indelible ink in the course of the voting course of.

A number of posts and movies have come up on social media about how the mark has been coming off with acetone, nail polish removers, and powerful hand washes.

The AAP has additionally formally recorded a criticism with the State Election Fee. Its Mumbai chief Ruben Mascarenhas demonstrated in a video how the ink will get eliminated.

Ink-marks being made on Voter’s fingers through the use of ‘marker pens’ as a substitute of Govt manufactured indelible ink, is well carrying off by the straightforward use of ‘Nail Polish Remover’ as I display, on this video.

⁦⁦Unacceptable. AAP has complained to SEC.#BMCPolls2026 pic.twitter.com/no5jqazMrw

— Ruben Mascarenhas (@rubenmasc) January 15, 2026

Former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena UBT occasion chief Uddhav Thackeray advised the media that the election commissioner ought to be held accountable. “The election commissioner must be answerable (the folks).”

Later, the State Election Fee issued an announcement saying that it was fallacious to erase the ink and confuse the voters. “If we determine any voter coming to the sales space after erasing the ink, motion can be taken in opposition to the voter. Even when any voter like this comes up, he/she gained’t have the ability to vote once more as a result of officers pay attention to these exercising their rights,” it added.

The SEC added that the usage of marker pens was in use ever since a brand new algorithm and rules had been issued in November 2011.

Uddhav’s cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, too, drew the media’s consideration to the matter. “As quickly as you get out of the voting sales space, one can use sanitiser to take away this ink. And so I wish to inform Shiv Sainiks and Maharashtra sainiks to be alert and catch doubtful voters in addition to those that are coming with the inks wiped off,” he mentioned after casting his vote.

Interesting to the employees of his alliance to stay alert, Shiv Sena UBT chief Sainath Durge took to social media and confirmed how the ink could be eliminated.

मतदान केल्यानंतर बोटावर लावण्यासाठी आज मार्कर पेन वापरलं जातंय, ती शाई सहज पुसली जातेय… शिवसैनिक, महाराष्ट्रसैनिक आणि शिवशक्तीच्या सर्व कार्यकर्त्यांना आवाहन आहे की सतर्क रहा, शाई पुसली जाण्याचा कोणी गैरफायदा घेत नाही ना ह्याकडे लक्ष द्या! गाफिल राहू नका!@ShivSenaUBT_… pic.twitter.com/uPInrLrUWR

— Sainath Durge (@DurgeSainath) January 15, 2026

Equally, Congress chief spokesperson Sachin Sawant demonstrated how the ink could be eliminated in a video that includes himself and his spouse.

Not simply in Mumbai, complaints had been reported even from Pune when NCP(SP) chief Rohit Pawar mentioned how the ink is getting erased.

मतदानानंतर बोटाला लावलेली शाई अनेक दिवस तशीच रहात असल्याचं आतापर्यंतच्या अनेक निवडणुकींमध्ये बघितलंय… पण आज ही लावण्यात आलेली शाई लगेचच पुसली जात असून अशा प्रकारची शाई वापरणं म्हणजे दुबार आणि बोगस मतदानासाठी निवडणूक आयोगानेच लावलेला हा हातभार नाही का? की बोगस मतदानाच्या… pic.twitter.com/2InMftEca9

— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) January 15, 2026

The Opposition, in keeping with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was making a difficulty out of this “as a result of they had been on the dropping aspect”.

“These items are determined by the Election Fee. And marker pens had been used beforehand as effectively. But when there are complaints then the Election Fee ought to take a notice,” Fadnavis advised the media.

“Nevertheless, I really feel some individuals are preempting the outcomes which can be coming tomorrow and they’re making ready responsible one thing.”