Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) leader Supriya Sule has condemned the checking of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s helicopter and bags by the Election Commission of India and called it “dirty politics.”
Sule said Thackeray’s bags were checked twice, while the bags of politicians in power are not checked like this.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sule said, “How is it possible that only opposition leaders’ bags are checked? Uddhav Thackeray’s bags were checked twice. No checking of the leaders in power is done. Such dirty politics is being done in Maharashtra.”
On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s helicopter and bags were checked in Latur before his Ausa Rally in support of the MVA candidate, earlier today.
After the incident Thackeray expressed anger, asking whether ECI officials checked the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar.
However, sources in the Election Commission clarified that enforcement agencies are strictly following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for a level playing field.
Helicopters of Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda were also checked during the election.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a similar issue was raised in Bihar. It was clarified then that helicopters of prominent leaders, including BJP National President JP Nadda, were checked by enforcement agencies.
Specifically, Nadda’s helicopter was inspected in Bhagalpur on April 24, 2024, and Home Minister Amit Shah’s helicopter was checked in Katihar on April 21, 2024, as per SOP.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during the announcement of the ongoing assembly elections, also emphasized that enforcement agencies have been directed to check the helicopters of all leaders to ensure a level playing field.
This move aims to prevent any undue influence or misuse of power during the elections and to maintain fairness and transparency in the electoral process.