Voting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026 kicked off on Thursday amid unexpected controversy. Videos went viral on social media showing voters allegedly wiping off the “indelible” ink from their fingers using acetone, nail polish remover, and hand sanitisers.

The clips sparked alarm across the city. Soon thereafter, complaints poured in not just from Mumbai, but from several other parts of Maharashtra, raising concerns about the integrity of the voting process. Social media debates flared, with voters accusing authorities of negligence and potential fraud. Political leaders, too, entered the fray, amplifying the issue.