“The viral photo shows Muslim voters standing in a queue during the recent 2026 BMC elections in Mumbai.”
Social media posts
Claim dated 16 Jan 2026.
FACTLY rated thisMISLEADING
What FACTLY found
The photo is not from the 2026 BMC elections. It was taken in Varanasi on 1 June 2024 during the Lok Sabha elections, as verified through AP News archives and Al Jazeera’s election coverage.
Their words, from the summary they publish with the rating.
In short
This claim spread on social media around 16 January 2026. FACTLY (India) looked into it and published its finding on 20 January 2026, 4 days later. Its rating was “MISLEADING”.
Where the claim appeared
Links recorded by FACTLY. Some posts may have been deleted since.
This check was done by FACTLY, not by DoesItStand. We list it so you can find it. Their full evidence and reasoning are in their article.