Poll Officials Inspect Nitin Gadkari's Helicopter Amidst Row Over Uddhav Thackeray’s Bag Checking

Latur: The poll officials, on Tuesday, checked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari 's helicopter in Maharashtra 's Latur amidst ongoing assembly election in the state. The election officials action came up amidst a massive political uproar over poll officials checking of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s bag. According to official sources, the helicopter of the Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways was checked by election officials in Maharashtra 's Latur on Tuesday when he arrived for a campaign there.

Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had raised questions after his two bag checks incidents took place by the election officials, once in Yavatmal and another time in Latur.

A video of Latur showed poll officials hopping on the helicopter after Nitin Gadkari landed, and going through several bags kept there.

Earlier in the day, sources in the Election Commission described Uddhav Thackeray's bags as part of SOPs for "a level playing field". Thackeray's checking of bags twice sparked a controversy, with the former Maharashtra Chief Minister claiming it was an undue hassle aimed at the Opposition ahead of state Assembly polls on November 20.

With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force, poll officials regularly carry out surprise checks to prevent distribution of gifts and cash to lure voters.

Thackeray's bag was first checked on Monday, after his helicopter landed in Yavatmal. The scene repeated itself the next day in Latur, where Thackeray's helicopter was again subjected to the same checks upon his arrival for a rally supporting former MLA Dinkar Mane, the Sena (UBT) candidate in Ausa constituency.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), showing Thackeray conversing with the poll officials, questioning the need for repeated searches.

In the video, Thackeray, visibly perturbed, asked the officials for their names, postings, and appointment letters. "How many people have you searched so far?" he asked.

When informed that he was the first person to be checked, Thackeray replied, "Why am I always the first customer?"

The former Chief Minister was also heard asking if the election authorities also inspect the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah when they come to Maharashtra to address rallies.

Leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance asked why the former chief minister was opposed to checks if he had nothing to hide.

However, leaders from Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) argued that the incident was just an attempt to trouble the opposition ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls.