Following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, singer and composer Vishal Dadlani has ignited a debate regarding the quality and effectiveness of the indelible ink used in the process. Dadlani posted a video on Instagram showing the ink on his finger, meant to be a lasting mark of having voted, fading within hours. He questioned the purpose of using ink that disappears so quickly, expressing his concerns in the video and caption.
Dadlani clarified that he had not attempted to remove the ink and that its disappearance occurred despite his regular use of hand sanitizer after shaking hands. "Can confirm, this was definitely not indelible ink," he stated, offering to provide an official statement if needed.
The singer's post resonated with numerous voters who shared similar experiences across different cities. Many comments echoed Dadlani's sentiment, with some alleging the use of marker pens instead of the standard indelible ink at certain polling stations. One commenter claimed the ink used to last for weeks, while another expressed shock, stating they could erase the ink after seeing Dadlani's post. Another user recounted questioning the use of a marker instead of ink and being told by an election official that they were provided with markers and to complain to the election commission if there was a problem. A separate user shared that the ink disappeared after doing daily chores and washing hands.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has yet to release an official statement addressing the fading ink claims directly but is likely to face increasing pressure to investigate the matter. The incident raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and whether the ink used met the required standards for preventing repeat voting.
Earlier on the day of the BMC elections, Dadlani also voiced his concerns about the low voter turnout. He shared a video from outside a polling center that appeared largely empty, lamenting the lack of public participation. "There is no trace of public here from what I can see. There are more officials inside than voters. It's so shameful," he said, urging Indians to take responsibility for their country. He emphasized that if citizens don't care and take responsibility, the current situation will persist. Dadlani stressed the importance of civic duty, stating, "This is your country, your city, your responsibility. Take care of it, or do whatever you are busy doing at home".
The BMC elections saw approximately 1,700 candidates competing for 227 single-member wards, marking the end of a four-year delay. The BJP-led Mahayuti faced a united opposition from the Thackeray cousins, Raj and Uddhav, in a crucial test of their influence following the 2022 Shiv Sena split. Amidst these high-stakes municipal elections, Uddhav Thackeray criticized the BJP for undermining democracy and accused them of wiping off the ink from voters' fingers to enable repeat voting, demanding accountability for the poll delay.
