Singer Vishal Dadlani has sparked a conversation regarding the indelible ink used during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. After casting his vote, Dadlani shared a video on Instagram showing his ink fading significantly shortly after, leading to a response from the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC).
In his Instagram post, which went live Thursday night, Dadlani emphasized the unusual fading of the ink intended to be long-lasting. He noted, “I have not tried to remove the ink. I regularly use sanitiser after shaking hands, but this is definitely not indelible ink,” and offered to provide an official statement if necessary.
Many voters echoed Dadlani’s concerns, claiming that some polling booths were using regular marker pens instead of the standard indelible ink. One voter from Nagpur commented, “Same in Nagpur, earlier the ink used to last for weeks… now it’s gone within a day!” Others recounted their experiences with polling officials using markers, questioning the validity of this method. One said, “I raised a question after they used a marker to dot on my finger… they replied with mild laughter, ‘This is what we have been given; complain to the election commission if you have a problem.’”
The purpose of indelible ink is to prevent double voting, as it typically remains visible for several days following the election.
Dadlani also addressed the concerning low turnout at polling stations. Noticing a nearly empty polling center, he expressed disappointment over public attendance, stating, “There is no trace of public here from what I can see. There are more officials inside than voters. It’s so shameful.” He urged citizens to take responsibility for their civic duties, declaring, “Every Indian should feel pain seeing this. If we don’t take care of our country, what is happening will continue.”
Moreover, he emphasized individual accountability by stating, “This is your country, your city, your responsibility. Take care of it, or do whatever you are busy doing at home.”
In addition to his advocacy, Vishal Dadlani is currently a judge on the popular show Indian Idol 16, alongside Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah. The show airs on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and is available for streaming on SonyLIV, typically on weekends at 8 PM.