NCP chief Sharad Pawar has apologised to the Election Commission for his ink remark. He said he deeply regretted the confusion and misunderstanding caused by the ink remark and requests the issue to be treated as closed.

The EC had said that Pawar had "prima facie" violated the Model Code of Conduct by his 'ink' remark and asked him to explain his stand by Thursday evening failing which a decision would be taken without asking him further.

Pawar's comments urging supporters to "vote twice" for his NCP, caught the EC's attention. Maharashtra election officers have asked for a tape of Pawar's speech at a rally in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, in which he reportedly asked workers to vote first at their hometowns, wash off the ink that would be daubed on their fingers, and then vote again at their places of work.