Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 16: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, alleging that the use of erasable ink during the Maharashtra civic polls has led to a “collapse of public trust” in democracy.

Sharing a media report on X, Gandhi described alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) as an anti-national act and accused the Election Commission of “gaslighting citizens” instead of addressing serious concerns raised by political parties and voters.

The remarks came a day after the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) ordered a probe into complaints that the ink used to mark voters’ fingers during the civic elections could be erased. The SEC, however, cautioned that strict action would be taken against those “creating confusion” or spreading misinformation regarding the issue.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had also raised the matter, accusing State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare of acting in favour of the ruling BJP-led alliance.
Thackeray demanded Waghmare’s suspension, alleging bias and compromise of electoral integrity.

Rejecting the allegations, Waghmare announced an inquiry and said claims that the ink could be removed using acetone or nail polish were baseless. He warned that any attempt to tamper with the ink marks or mislead voters would invite legal action.

The controversy has sparked political sparring in the state, with opposition parties demanding greater transparency and accountability from election authorities, even as the SEC maintains that the polling process was conducted fairly and in accordance with established norms.