Maharashtra Civic Polls Ink Row: Rahul Gandhi Alleges Vote Manipulation, SEC Orders Probe

During the Maharashtra civic polls, opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi alleged that the indelible ink used to mark voters' fingers could be easily removed, raising concerns about potential vote manipulation. Gandhi accused the Election Commission of 'gaslighting' citizens and called vote theft an anti-national act. The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) announced a probe into the ink quality and circulated videos, deciding to revert to traditional ink for upcoming elections. The BJP dismissed the allegations, accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation amid early leads favoring the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.