An estimated 30 per cent of the eligible voters cast their ballots till 1.30pm in elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday.

Meanwhile, amid allegations of electoral malpractice in the Maharashtra local body polls, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has clarified that attempting to erase the ink applied on a voter's finger and thereby trying to create confusion among voters is a malpractice.

"If it is found that a person has erased the ink from their finger and has come to vote again, appropriate legal action will be taken against them," the State Election Commission has informed in an official statement.

The SEC has also emphasised that even after one erases the indelible ink, it does not mean they can vote again, as the poll body maintains a record of who has cast their vote.

The SEC's clarification comes as  Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray criticised the polling body for colluding with the ruling party. Pointing to the "many irregularities" during the voting underway in Maharashtra, he asked whether the poll body had "hired a sanitiser agency" to allow for the ink to be removed so easily.

"Has a sanitiser agency been hired by the Election Commission? I think action should be taken against the Election Commissioner. What have they done in the last nine years? The Election Commission is a servant, not a king. I urge you to come out in large numbers and vote," he said.

"There are many people who are not aware of what their polling booth is...so many problems are coming up," he added.

As per the polling data released till 1.30 pm, Ward No. 114 in the Eastern suburbs recorded the highest voter turnout at 41.08 per cent, reflecting strong voter participation in parts of Mumbai. Ward No. 227 in South Mumbai logged the lowest turnout at 11.24 per cent in the first 6 hours.