Mumbai’s civic polls have erupted into controversy as voters report marker ink vanishing from their fingers within hours of casting ballots. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has seized on the anomaly, accusing authorities of massive election rigging.
In a fiery press conference, Thackeray displayed videos and photos from multiple polling stations showing voters’ fingers clean despite recent voting. ‘This is blatant fraud to manipulate results in favor of certain parties,’ he thundered, urging supporters to hit the streets.
Election officials scramble to explain the phenomenon, attributing it to ‘high-quality water’ used by voters post-polling. But skepticism runs high amid BMC’s high-stakes battle between Shiv Sena factions and other rivals.
Polling concluded peacefully on Wednesday, but Thackeray’s allegations threaten to derail the counting process set for Thursday. Independent observers note similar complaints in past elections, raising questions about indelible ink reliability.
As tensions simmer in Maharashtra’s financial capital, political analysts warn of potential unrest. Thackeray’s MNS, though a smaller player, has a history of mobilizing Marathi manoos against perceived injustices.
The Election Commission has promised a probe, but with results imminent, the damage to public trust may already be done. Voters across Mumbai express dismay, fearing their voices were silenced by technical glitches or worse.
This scandal underscores ongoing challenges in India’s electoral system, where even simple safeguards like voter ink can become flashpoints. Stay tuned as the BMC poll drama unfolds.