Civic polls across Maharashtra see nearly 50 per cent voting amid ink removal controversy

Around 50 per cent polling was recorded in Mumbai and 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra on Thursday, as the civic elections were overshadowed by a major controversy over claims that the ink applied on voters’ fingers could be easily removed.

Speaking shortly after voting ended at 5.30 pm, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said turnout across the 29 civic bodies was in the 46–50 per cent range. An official said the exact polling figures would be declared later.

In the 2017 elections, Mumbai had recorded a turnout of 55.53 per cent, while the average voting figure across 26 municipal corporations was 56.35 per cent. Elections were held for the first time in Jalna and Ichalkaranji municipal corporations that year.

On Thursday, the focus remained firmly on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is locked in an intense contest with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s largest and richest civic body.

The BMC, which has an annual budget of over Rs 74,400 crore, saw 1,700 candidates contesting 227 seats in elections held after a gap of nine years following a four-year delay.

More than 25,000 police personnel were deployed across Mumbai to oversee the polling process.

Polling for 2,869 seats across 893 wards in the 29 civic bodies began at 7.30 am and concluded at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters were eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates.

Except for Mumbai, the remaining 28 urban bodies have multi-member wards. Counting of votes will begin at 10 am on January 16.

The BMC elections were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Supreme Court rulings on OBC reservations, and issues related to ward delimitation. The last BMC polls were held in 2017. The term of corporators ended on 7 March 2022, after which the civic body was placed under an administrator as elections could not be conducted on time.

As voting began on Thursday morning, social media platforms were flooded with videos showing ordinary voters, politicians and some mediapersons using acetone to wipe off the ‘indelible’ ink applied after voting.

The State Election Commission rejected the allegations and warned it would take action against those propagating such claims.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged irregularities in the civic polls, calling it an attempt to murder democracy, and urged voters to dislodge what he described as the “brutal, fraud, corrupt and dictatorial regime” of the BJP.

Uddhav and his cousin Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, targeted the State Election Commission on several issues, including the claim that the ink used on voters’ fingers could be easily erased.

Addressing a news conference, Uddhav demanded the suspension of Waghmare and alleged collusion between the poll body and the government.

Terming the SEC an anti-constitutional body, Uddhav said, “Never ever such things (alleged irregularities) have happened before,” and claimed the ink used by the poll commission could be erased using hand sanitisers.

Raj Thackeray criticised the SEC over the use of the Printing Auxiliary Display Unit (PADU) in the civic polls.

“The SEC did not even bother to give any clarification on the use of PADU and extended the canvassing time to allow distribution of money (by ruling parties),” he alleged.

Raj also claimed the State Election Commission was using a new pen, due to which the markings on voters’ fingers disappeared.

After casting his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the controversy, saying, “I have also been marked with a marker, is it erasing? Creating a ruckus on everything and raising questions is wrong.”

Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat said the ink applied with marker pens could be removed easily and may lead to bogus voting.

“It is true that the ink of marker pen is getting removed easily. There is a possibility of bogus voting at some places due to this. Polling agents and officials should pay strict attention to this,” he told reporters.

The Mumbai civic polls also saw strong participation from film and sports personalities.

Actors Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan voted, expressing hope that the “right” candidates would address issues ranging from infrastructure to pollution.

Others who exercised their franchise included Hema Malini, Saira Banu, Shabana Azmi, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Paresh Rawal and screenwriter Salim Khan.

Akshay Kumar, one of the first to arrive at his polling booth, urged citizens to vote instead of only complaining about civic problems.

“All the people of Mumbai must come out and vote, rather than complaining later about things like ‘we don’t have water, roads are not proper, and that there’s no cleanliness’. So, now it’s our turn and we all should step out and vote for the right person. If you want to be the real hero of Mumbai, then instead of (mouthing) dialogues, come and vote,” Kumar told reporters.

His wife Twinkle Khanna said, “It gives us a sense of control, a little bit of power over the narrative. I’m voting out of habit and hope.”

Aamir Khan encouraged citizens to participate and praised the BMC for making “good arrangements” at polling booths.

Ranbir Kapoor also lauded the facilities provided to voters, saying, “We complain throughout the year saying, ‘our city doesn’t have this or that’, so this is your time to come and vote.”

Actor-politician and BJP MP Hema Malini stressed the importance of voting for the right candidate to ensure a “cleaner, safer and pothole-free” Mumbai.

She, along with Nana Patekar, Suniel Shetty and musician Vishal Dadlani, appealed to voters to step out and cast their ballots. Patekar travelled for three hours from Pune to vote in Mumbai.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar voted with his wife Anjali and daughter Sara at the Pali-Chimbai Municipal School in Bandra, saying elections provide an opportunity to express opinions through voting.

After casting his vote in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said, “In a democratic setup, voting is needed to elect the government, and hence it is the duty of every citizen to vote.”

Sporadic EVM glitches were reported during the Pune Municipal Corporation polls, but officials said replacement machines were installed promptly.

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar said some EVMs shut down briefly at the start of polling in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad alleged large-scale misuse of money and power by the BJP-led alliance but said she was confident of her party’s victory.

In Dhule, civic poll violence was reported, including scuffles between rival groups, damage to an EVM and an attack on the residence of Shiv Sena leader Manoj More.

Police said a mob of around 20 people attacked More’s residence at Krushi Colony in Deopur, allegedly over a dispute related to the withdrawal of candidature.

In Thane, a 98-year-old former school teacher, Leela Shrotri, cast her vote in the municipal corporation elections, drawing attention for her determination to participate.

A resident of Parmar House at Tembhi Naka in Thane city and the great-grandmother of actor Pushkar Shrotri, she arrived at the BJ High School polling booth to exercise her franchise.

(With inputs from agencies)