15 January,2026 05:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. File pic
After the Thackeray cousins, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) lawmaker Supriya Sule raised concerns over reports on voting ink during the ongoing Maharashtra civic body elections 2026.
Sule claimed that in several polling centres across the state, voters were allegedly made to wipe off the ink on their fingers after casting their votes, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the elections.
The Lok Sabha MP described these incidents as "shocking and worrying" and also highlighted irregularities with electronic voting machines (EVMs). She said that in multiple locations, indicator lights failed to register votes, and some machines did not emit the usual confirmation beep after voting.
She further noted that errors persisted in polling station listings and candidate sequences on certain EVMs. Sule also cited reports of cash distribution outside polling centres, which, she said, contributed to confusion and anxiety among voters.
"Transparent and trustworthy voting is essential for a strong democracy, but currently, this appears to be lacking," Sule said, warning that such incidents could undermine public confidence in the election process.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had also raised concerns over polling procedures, claiming that the indelible ink applied to voters' fingers could be easily rubbed off.
Thackeray alleged that the BJP and its allies had made every possible effort to secure a victory in the civic elections, raising questions over the conduct of the polls.
He claimed that in Kalyan-Dombivli, polling agents were found carrying lists of candidates, a practice he described as unprecedented. "Such issues were never faced or even heard of in earlier elections," he remarked.
Questioning the role of the state election commission (SEC), Thackeray asked why the poll body and its staff were drawing salaries if repeated complaints were not being addressed. He alleged widespread anomalies in the electoral rolls that remained uncorrected despite multiple representations.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader also claimed to have received reports of indelible ink being easily erased, male names appearing against female voters, and other serious irregularities. He further questioned changes in the counting process, noting that counting previously began immediately after polling.
"Why has the basic electoral process been altered now?" he questioned.
"The process appears compromised, raising serious questions about the fairness and credibility of the elections," Thackeray alleged.
