Fadnavis Scratches Voting Finger, Questions Marker Pen Claims
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Opposition allegations about marker pens replacing indelible ink in the state's corporation elections. He made his comments after casting his vote in Nagpur on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
"Is It Getting Erased?" Fadnavis Asks While Scratching Finger
After voting, Fadnavis scratched his marked finger and posed a direct question. "I have also been marked with a marker," he stated. "Is it getting erased?" The Chief Minister then suggested that if genuine issues exist with voting materials, the Election Commission should investigate.
"If there are issues related to machines or marker pens," Fadnavis continued, "the Election Commission should look into it and use something else. They can use oil paint if they want. The elections should be impartial."
Fadnavis criticized what he called unnecessary controversy. "But creating a ruckus on everything and raising questions is very wrong," he emphasized.Opposition Creating Narrative to Justify Loss, Says CM
Fadnavis responded specifically to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray's claims. Thackeray had alleged that marker pens were being used instead of permanent ink at multiple polling booths. He suggested voters could wipe off the marks with sanitizer and vote repeatedly.
"The Opposition appears to be trying to establish a narrative," Fadnavis argued. "They want to justify their potential loss ahead of the results." He characterized this approach as reflecting a defeatist mindset among Opposition parties.
"In a democracy, there should be free and fair polls," Fadnavis stated. "That is our insistence. Unfortunately, some Opposition leaders, unsure of their performance, are setting this narrative. I would think they are trying to pre-empt the poll results to justify their failure in advance."
Thackeray's Allegations and Voting Process
Earlier on Thursday, Raj Thackeray made serious allegations about the voting process. He claimed the entire system and administration were being misused to benefit the ruling alliance.
"People come out, wipe the ink and go back inside to vote again," Thackeray told reporters after voting. "Then they come out, wipe it again and re-enter. Is this what the government calls development?"
Voting occurred across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. This included high-profile civic bodies like Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Thane, Nagpur, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The state government declared a holiday in corporation areas to encourage voter participation.
Fadnavis Emphasizes Voting as Democratic Duty
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of the local body elections for urban development. "I urge every citizen to come out and vote," Fadnavis said. "If you believe in democracy, you should vote. It is not only your fundamental right but also a duty."
Approximately 15,931 candidates contested around 2,869 seats in these elections. Vote counting was scheduled for Friday, January 16.
Condemnation of Violence Against BJP Candidate
Fadnavis also addressed an incident of violence during the polling. Opposition workers allegedly assaulted BJP candidate Bhushan Shingne.
"The physical attack on Bhushan Shingne and other BJP activists was a cowardly act," Fadnavis stated. "Bhushan Shingne suffered a fractured hand and head injuries."
He condemned the violence unequivocally. "In a democracy, such dastardly acts are unacceptable," Fadnavis declared. He added that intimidation attempts would not deter BJP workers from their political activities.
The controversy over voting materials unfolded as Maharashtra conducted one of its most significant rounds of local elections. Both ruling and Opposition parties presented contrasting narratives about electoral integrity while encouraging voter participation across the state.
