Mumbai: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday ordered an inquiry into complaints about the use of allegedly erasable electoral ink during Maharashtra’s civic polls, following accusations by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. The SEC also warned of action against anyone attempting to “create confusion” among voters.

Thackeray accused State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare of “openly siding” with the ruling BJP-led alliance and demanded his suspension. He questioned the integrity of the polls, claiming instances where voters’ names were allegedly entered twice on the rolls and suggesting that the semi-permanent ink used to mark voters’ fingers could be removed.

Responding to the allegations, Waghmare clarified that the electoral ink has been in use since 2011, is manufactured by the same company, and cannot be wiped off once dried. “The ink takes 10 to 12 seconds to dry after application, and once it dries, it cannot be wiped off,” he said, adding that claims about acetone or nail polish removing it are false.

The SEC chief further stated that videos circulating on social media suggesting otherwise were intended to confuse voters and warned that legal action would be taken against those spreading such misinformation. Waghmare also addressed complaints about malfunctioning electronic voting machines, saying they pertained to only about two per cent of machines, which are old and have not been replaced in the last decade.

Accusing the opposition of pushing a false narrative, Waghmare said, “The SEC cannot be held responsible for everything. Some responsibility also lies with voters, candidates, and political parties.”

Thackeray, meanwhile, alleged that the ruling alliance, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was using money and manipulative tactics to secure power. “Voters are smart, and they will choose the right candidate,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for an audit of SEC staff and political party representatives involved in the election process.

The SEC’s probe into the ink complaints is expected to address both the technical claims and the allegations of irregularities raised by Thackeray ahead of the counting of votes.