Mumbai, Jan 15 (NationPress) During the ongoing Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray launched a fierce critique against the State Election Commission on Thursday. He accused the Commission of grave discrepancies in the voter lists, highlighting issues such as duplicate entries and the use of "erasable ink". Thackeray raised doubts about the integrity of the electoral body, demanding the suspension and questioning of the State Election Commissioner.

After voting with his family for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Thackeray addressed the media, stating, "The Mumbai Municipal elections are being conducted after a nine-year hiatus. What have the Election Commissioner, officers, and staff been doing all this time?"

He insisted on accountability, asserting, "There should be transparency regarding what the Election Commissioner earns a salary for. They ought to publish daily reports of their activities for the public."

Thackeray further demanded action against the entire SEC staff, accusing the State Election Commissioner of acting as a representative for the ruling BJP and the Shinde faction. He noted that reports of disarray have been pouring in from Mumbai and various cities across the state since polling began this morning.

“Many voters discovered their names missing from the rolls. The issue of duplicate entries remains unresolved despite numerous complaints. Allegations emerged that the ink used on voters' fingers can be easily removed, allowing for potential multiple voting. This chaos is unending,” he stated, criticizing the SEC for failing to ensure a smooth electoral process despite ample preparation time.

Thackeray contended that the BJP, anticipating defeat, is resorting to such tactics to skew the election.

MNS President Raj Thackeray also expressed similar concerns, criticizing the SEC for utilizing marker pens instead of traditional indelible ink. “The marker ink disappears if sanitizer is applied. Is this the ‘development’ we are witnessing? Wipe the ink and vote again?” Raj Thackeray asked sarcastically. He also voiced concerns over a new counting machine named 'PADU', alleging that no political party was informed about its operation.

Leaders like Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) have also raised doubts regarding the electoral process, referencing reports of EVM malfunctions and the ink controversy.

However, CM Devendra Fadnavis and other ruling party leaders dismissed these claims, asserting that the opposition is making excuses due to their looming defeat. In light of the escalating controversy, the State Election Commission clarified that deliberately removing the ink to attempt multiple voting is a legal offense, and strict measures will be taken against such individuals.

“The Commission insists that the allegations about the ink being easily erasable are baseless and that the voting process is proceeding transparently,” it stated.

Despite the technical issues, Uddhav Thackeray urged citizens to participate actively in the elections, emphasizing that a high voter turnout is crucial to "defend democracy" against administrative failures and possible manipulation.