Election Commission Responds to Uddhav Thackeray Bag Row, Says 'SOPs Followed': Reports

Mumbai: Election Commission of India responded to controversy surrounding frisking of former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's bags, clarifying that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) were hered to in order to ensure a fair election process ahe of Maharashtra Assembly polls, according to reports.

A political tussle erupted between ruling Mahayuti alliance and opposition Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) after Uddhav Thackeray posted a video showing election officials frisking his bags upon his arrival in Yavatmal on Monday for Assembly poll campaigning.

In ar incident, Aitya Thackeray claimed that Uddhav Thackeray's bags were checked again in Latur on Tuesday and posted a video of incident on X.

"While Entirely Compromised commission shamelessly carries on trying to delay Uddhav Thackeray ji to his sabhas by frisking, question is, why isn’t PM or or ministers visiting Maharashtra to promote BJP 's loot being frisked this way?" Aitya said in X post.

With Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in effect, election officials conduct regular surprise checks to prevent distribution of gifts and cash aimed at influencing voters.

video, likely filmed by Thackeray himself, features him questioning poll officials about wher y checked bags of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde , along with his deputies Devendra Fnavis and Ajit Pawar . He is also heard asking if bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are inspected when y visit Maharashtra for election rallies.

"You are following your responsibility and I will perform my responsibility... way you inspected my bag, did you inspect bags of Modi and Shah?" he asked, as hear in video.

In response to Uddhav Thackeray's remark, Mahayuti leers sarcastically said that he was worried about his "stolen money" being discovered. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leer Sanjay Raut joined criticism, accusing Eknath Shinde and his deputies of distributing large sums of money in Maharashtra.

" Election Commission does its work, we have problem. But, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have sent Rs 25 crore each... Does Election Commission check lugg and helicopters of Mahayuti leers? Do Mahayuti leers have only underwear in ir bags?" Sanjay Raut said.

NCP (SP) chief Shar Pawar and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh criticized BJP over incident, with Pawar alleging it was an effort to "trouble ir opponents."