Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission on Friday. He accused the poll body of gaslighting citizens. This came after reports emerged about marker pens being used to ink voters' fingers during Maharashtra's civic elections.
Allegations of Vote Tampering Surface
The controversy centers on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election. Opposition parties raised serious concerns. They alleged the ink from these marker pens could be wiped off easily. This raised immediate questions about the integrity of the entire polling process.
Rahul Gandhi did not mince words in his social media post. "Election commission gaslighting citizens is how trust has collapsed in our democracy," he stated firmly. He went further, calling the alleged practice "Vote Chori" and labeling it an anti-national act.
Election Commission Defends Its Practice
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare swiftly rejected all allegations. He provided a clear historical context for the commission's actions. Waghmare explained that marker pens have been standard procedure for local self-government elections in Maharashtra since 2011.
He strongly asserted the ink used is completely indelible. The commission stands by the security and validity of the voting process it conducted.
BJP Launches Counter-Attack
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded with force to Rahul Gandhi's comments. National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned the Congress leader's motives in a post on X.
Poonawalla suggested Gandhi was "accepting defeat before counting ends." He accused the opposition of falling back on its old habits. "Discredit, distort & disinform," he wrote, characterizing the Congress strategy. The BJP spokesperson also referenced past allegations made by Gandhi regarding elections in Bihar.
Key Details of the BMC Election
The BMC election itself was a significant event, held after an eight-year gap. Polling concluded on Thursday. According to official figures released on Friday, the voter turnout reached 52.94%.
- Total registered voters: 1,03,44,315
- Total votes cast: 54,76,043
- Men who voted: 29,23,433
- Women who voted: 25,52,359
- Transgender voters: 251
The election covered 277 wards. In absolute numbers, about 3.7 lakh more men cast their ballots than women. This election is crucial as it is expected to end Mumbai's nearly four-year period without a mayor. The last elected mayor, Kishori Pednekar, saw her term end in March 2022.
Political Reactions and Dismissals
The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance had initially made allegations regarding the polling process. These were later denied by the State Election Commission. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the entire controversy.
He alleged the opposition was simply preparing excuses for an expected electoral defeat. "I feel some people are preparing to blame something for the result tomorrow," Fadnavis stated. He reminded everyone that the Election Commission has used marker pens multiple times in past elections without issue.
The political row highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding India's electoral processes. It underscores the deep trust deficit that opposition parties claim exists in the current democratic framework. All eyes are now on the vote counting and the final results of the BMC election.
