Mumbai: Amid voting for the municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), there was big drama on Thursday.
Celebrities from all fields came out to vote, but a controversy erupted over alleged use of erasable ink used to mark voters’ fingers, even as questions were raised as to why Indian stock exchanges were shut for Mumbai’s civic polls.
Hours after voting got underway in the morning, several claims surfaced on social media, including from Opposition leaders, alleging that the ‘indelible’ ink which is being used could be wiped off using acetone — a colourless, flammable organic solvent used in nail polish removers, paint thinners and cleaning agents — and after washing it a couple of times.
BMC dismissed the claims, saying reports of the ink being wiped off were incorrect. However, the State Election Commission (SEC) ordered a probe into complaints of erasable electoral ink being used during the civic polls.
Thackerays slam state election commission
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray flagged the issue.
Uddhav accused state election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare of “openly siding” with the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and demanded his suspension. Uddhav said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and “his men” were using these tactics as they feared defeat.
Raj alleged that the indelible ink used during elections had been replaced with a marker pen whose mark can be easily removed using hand sanitiser.
While announcing an inquiry into the complaints of erasable electoral ink, Waghmare said claims about acetone or nail polish being able to remove it are false. The state election commissioner warned that anyone attempting to remove the ink or spread confusion among voters would face legal action.
“The indelible ink used in the markers applied to voters’ fingers has been in use since 2011. The markers are manufactured by the same company and use the same ink composition. The ink takes 10 to 12 seconds to dry after application, and once it dries, it cannot be wiped off,” Waghmare said.
Accusing the Opposition of targeting the SEC through a false narrative, Waghmare said, “The SEC cannot be held responsible for everything. Some responsibility also lies with voters, candidates, and political parties.”
Fadnavis rubbished the Thackerays’ claims.
“I have also been marked with a marker, is it erasing? The Election Commission should look into this issue and use something else, they can use oil paint if they want, the elections should be impartial. But creating a ruckus on everything and raising questions is very wrong,” the Maharashtra CM said.
Zerodha CEO slams poor planning
Meanwhile, Zerodha co-founder and chief executive Nithin Kamath was bemused by the decision to close Indian stock exchanges for the state civic polls and slammed the ‘poor planning.’
“The fact that our exchanges, which have international linkages, are shut down for a local municipal election shows poor planning and a serious lack of appreciation for second-order effects,” Kamath posted on X.
The stock market holiday was announced on January 12, and recently added to the list of holidays in 2026.
In a circular issued on Monday, the BSE and NSE said that trading in the equity segment, equity derivatives, commodity derivatives and electronic gold receipts will stay shut on January 15 on account of the BMC elections 2026.
