Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s helicopter was given a multi-hour examination by the election department at Palghar ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. India Today TV captured a video of chief minister Eknath Shinde as he allowed the election officers to examine his helicopter and scan through his belongings. Such is the scrutiny when on campaign trail.
The inspection comes amidst controversy following claims by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray that poll officials had searched his belongings several times at both Yavatmal and Latur. A video put out by Thackeray has included the question of whether such searches were also being levied on Eknath Shinde and other leaders within the ruling party, which forced officials to reiterate the need to maintain a “level playing field” as envisioned under the Model Code of Conduct.
Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Uddhav, took to social media and criticized the Election Commission and questioned whether such checks should not be conducted with other leaders as well and said that the officials are biased towards them. He also goes on to say that such actions seem to make the opposition leaders merely delay till they reach their campaign event. Retaliating against Thackeray, BJP leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar argued in retaliation.
BJP leaders say it was right as Eknath Shinde’s helicopter inspected On campaign trail
Fadnavis, for his part, shared a video of his bags being checked, saying that routine inspections were a part of the campaign and should not be the cause of frustration. “Even the chopper which Ajit took during LS polls and my bags were also checked on board and thus had told the MLA’s patience was required with the election regulations,” said Fadnavis.
At the same time, Latur also saw similar checks on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari; it is a signal that the Election Commission is in no mood to let anything easy pass. Pawar said, “These measures, however irritating, are necessary for a fair election environment.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said that the opposition members may resort to their own checking of the belongings of heads of ruling coalition units if the poll officials will not apply these checks fairly. The Maharashtra Assembly polls are scheduled on November 20 and the results are expected to come in three days later, which will heighten the vigil on the campaign activity and enforcing of election rules.
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