Amid Uddhav bag row, EC says helicopters of Amit Shah, Nadda also checked as part of SOP

Amid the row over Election Commission officials checking the bags of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during his campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the poll panel termed them as “routine” checks as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP).

EC officials further clarified that the aircraft and helicopters of top leaders across political spectrum, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader J.P. Nadda have been checked as part of the SOP.

"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," an official was quoted as saying by  PTI.

In May, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s bags were examined after rumours that money was being transferred to purchase votes. According to officials, nothing objectionable was found in this searches.

Shinde’ Shiv Sena cited this incident to target Thackeray and said the party had never made any fuss over it.

Thackeray on Monday claimed that the EC officials checked his bag when he arrived in Yavatmal to campaign for the November 20 assembly elections.

Shiv Sena (UBT) had shared a video of polling officials checking Thackeray’s bags after he landed at the airport. In the video, the former chief minister can be heard asking the officials if they wold also search the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any other top leaders.

The war of words intensified on Tuesday after another video surfaced showing Thackeray questioning the officials, asking them to show their ID cards and even the money in their pockets.

Meanwhile, Thackeray claimed on Tuesday that his bags were inspected again by the election authorities after he arrived in Latur district.