BJP fact-checks Uddhav Thackeray, shares video of poll officials frisking Devendra Fadnavis's luggage at same location

Uddhav Thackeray said officials inspected his belongings after his helicopter landed in Wani, Yavatmal district.

After a routine check of Uddhav Thackeray's luggage in Maharashtra's Yavatmal sparked a row, the BJP posted a video of airport security frisking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' bags.

“Carrying the Constitution in hand alone isn’t enough; one must also respect constitutional processes. We simply request that everyone should have a sense of regard for the Constitution,” the Maharashtra BJP posted on X.

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(@BJP4Maharashtra) November 13, 2024

Thackeray alleged on Tuesday that his bags were inspected by election officials upon his arrival in Latur district, Maharashtra, where he was campaigning for the upcoming November 20 assembly polls. Thackeray's party had shared videos on social media of poll authorities checking his bags on Monday too.

On Monday, Thackeray reported that officials inspected his belongings after his helicopter landed in Wani, Yavatmal district. In a video on X, Thackeray could be heard asking the authorities whether similar checks are conducted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah when they come to Maharashtra to address rallies.

"I won't stop you... you are following your responsibility. I am following mine. Search... search whatever you want to search. But did you search bags of Devendra Fadnavis, Narendra Modi, or Amit Shah?" Thackeray was heard saying. To this, the poll official said the BJP leaders had not campaigned in the region yet. Thackeray then asked him to ensure he checked their bags whenever they visit the region and send him a video.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission told PTI that aircraft and helicopters of top leaders across the political spectrum are checked as part of standard operating procedure (SOP).

They said in the previous polls too, planes and helicopters of BJP president J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah were checked.

"There have been strict SOPs followed by enforcement agencies for a level playing field. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a similar issue was raised in Bihar and it was clarified that the helicopters of prominent leaders, including Nadda was checked in district Bhagalpur on April 24 and Shah in district Katihar on April 21 were also checked as per SOP," a functionary told PTI.

During the 2024 Lok Sabha election, poll officials checked the luggage of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on his arrival at a helipad in Nashik, days after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that the CM carried bags stashed with cash in a helicopter. The officials did not find anything objectionable in  Shinde’s bags.

The Election Commission during 2024 Lok Sabah polls suspended its general observer for Sambalpur in Odisha for violating its instructions that SPG protectees should not be checked. A Karnataka cadre IAS officer had tried to check some luggage in the convoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sambalpur.