A routine inspection Uddhav Thackeray’s luggage by election officials The incident in Yavatmal has become the latest flashpoint between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in poll-bound Maharashtra. While Mahayuti leaders said they feared Thackeray’s “stolen money” would be intercepted, MVA sought to find out whether bags belonging to senior leaders of the ruling alliance had been checked in a similar manner during the campaign.

Taking up the sticks on behalf of Thackeray, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that large amounts of money were distributed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra.

“The Election Commission is doing its job, we have no problem. But Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have sent 25 billion rupees each… Is the Election Commission checking the luggage and helicopters of Mahayuti leaders? Do Mahayuti leaders have only underwear in their clothes or bags? ” Raut said.

On Monday, Uddhav Thackeray released a 150-second video of election officials going through bags at the Wani helipad. In the video, which was probably shot by Thackeray himself, Thackeray is seen asking questions to poll officials. Are they examining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bags? and Home Minister Amit Shah when they came to Maharashtra to address rallies.

However, with the code of conduct model in place, such inspections are carried out by polling officials to prevent the distribution of gifts and cash to attract voters.

Thackeray also found support from NCP chief Sharad Pawar. “The power is in their hands. This is an attempt to disturb the rivals. They will have to bear the brunt of this,” Pawar said.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, whose party is part of the INDIA bloc, said the former Prime Minister’s luggage was checked only to “humiliate” Thackeray. “When there is an election, Modi’s puppets become active. Today his helicopter was controlled to influence the election and humiliate Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray,” Sanjay Singh tweeted.

‘DOES UDDHAV THACKERAY THINK OF HIMSELF AS EMPEROR?’

Under the barrage of criticism from opposition leaders, the BJP too tried to hit back and questioned the noise and screams made by the MVA if Thackeray had nothing to hide.

“Uddhav Thackeray’s threat to Election Commission officials to do their job is the worst thing you will see today. His language is worse than a street hoodlum. He asks them to check his ‘urine container’ too. This disgraced man was once the chief minister of Maharashtra. This MVA its ugly face,” said Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT Cell chief.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur said this was a routine inspection by election officials. “The Electoral Commission is doing its job… It even examines our bags. If there is nothing, why should we be afraid? Remorse does not need an accuser (Chor ke dadhi me tinka),” Thakur said.

Former MP and senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya questioned whether Uddhav Thackeray sees himself as the emperor as the baggage of all leaders crossing political lines is checked by poll officials.

Somaiya said, “Devendra Fadnavis’s luggage is also being checked. Does Uddhav Thackeray think he is the emperor? Uddhav is afraid of his stolen money being caught.”