Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray of trying to distract voters by protesting against routine bag checks by election officials, suggesting that the latter was “seeking votes by whining.”
“What’s wrong with checking bags?” Fadnavis questioned on Tuesday, while campaigning for Mahayuti candidate Sulabha Ganpat Gaikwad in Kalyan East, Thane, ahead of the November 20 assembly elections. He added that his own campaign team also went through similar checks without issue.
“Thackeray’s frustration is visible,” said Fadnavis, claiming the Sena (UBT) chief was short of substantial issues and thus “seeking votes by whining.” Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis further targeted the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, noting that some of its allies had moved the high court against the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a program providing financial aid to women.
Uddhav’s bag row
The controversy erupted on Monday after the former chief minister’s party posted a video of Thackeray’s bags being checked by election officials, accusing the poll authorities of deliberately targeting them.
The next day, elections officials repeated the check after his chopper arrived in Ausa, Latur, where he was scheduled to speak at a rally in Kasar Shirshi village in support of Sena (UBT) candidate Dinakar Mane.
In a video shared on X, Thackeray was seen speaking to election staff, asking their names, postings, and requesting to see their appointment letters. “How many people have you searched so far?” he asked. When told he was the first, he replied, “Why am I always the first customer?” He went on to say, “Modi is coming today, and I’ll send you to Solapur airport, which is shut down. Narendra Modi should also be subjected to this kind of checking.” Thackeray clarified that he wasn’t angry with the officials but insisted that the same rules should apply to Prime Minister Modi when he arrives to campaign.
Thackeray also asked if the officials were Maharashtrians, adding, “We should live and die for Maharashtra, not do jobs for other states.” The election authorities later confirmed that no objectionable items were found in his bags.
Shiv Sena UBT fumes at poll body
Former state minister Aditya Thackeray took to X, accusing the Election Commission of bias. “While the entirely compromised commission shamelessly carries on trying to delay Uddhav Thackeray ji to his sabhas by frisking, the question is, why isn’t the PM or other ministers visiting Maharashtra to promote bjp’s loot being frisked this way?,” he wrote, adding, “What a disgrace it’s turning out to be—this institution.”
MVA ally Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) also condemned the checks, calling them “dirty politics.” Sule questioned why only opposition leaders were subjected to searches, while politicians in power were not. “How is it possible that only opposition leaders’ bags are checked? Uddhav Thackeray’s bags were checked twice. No checking of leaders in power is done,” she said to reporters on Tuesday.
(With Inputs from agencies)