Mumbai, 15 Jan (HS): The State Election Commissioner should resign on

moral grounds, given the large scale irregularities in the municipal

corporation elections on Thursday. Thackeray was addressing the media after

casting vote. The voters have complained that they can remove the ink mark

using sanitizer or nail paint remover. Earlier ink was used for marking, bu the

Election Commission suddenly took the decision to use markers causing the

issue.

Thackeray said that the decision to remove VVPAT from the EVMs posing

serious problems of doing it under pressure, he said. By removing the ink mark

the voters can vote more than once, he added.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray also made similar

allegations.

EC Clarifies: Meanwhile, the

Election Commission has clarified through a press release stating that the

decision to use marker pen was taken on November 192011 and the notification to

that effect was issued on November 28, 2011. After that the marker pen was used

in local body elections. The staff on election duty have been adequately trained

to make a mark on the nail and above so that it cannot be removed.

Removing ink is an offence. The staff marks the voters after casting

vote. Thus any person will not be able to cast vote again. Those violating the

rules or attempting to go against the rule will face action.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar