Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 12: A political slugfest erupted on Tuesday over checking of luggage by the election officials of the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Udhhav Thackeray with his party accusing the rival alliance “Mahayuti” of distributing cash to buy votes in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
With the elections in the western state just a week away, complaints and counter complaints between the two major alliances in the state has intensified. The row over checking of baggage, which the election commission claimed was a mere “routine one,” offended the Sena (UBT) leaders with the rival Sena faction led by the chief minister Eknath Shinde and its alliance partner BJP hitting back asking the Sena if he had anything to hide.
The Sena (UBT) leaders saw in the checking of Mr Thackeray’s baggage an attempt by the BJP government to target and harass the opposition leaders to provide an undue advantage to the ruling alliance “Mahayuti” of the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) in the state Assembly elections.
The Sena (UBT) spokesman Sanjay Raut alleged that money was bring brought to the state by the BJP bigwigs and being distributed among the voters to buy votes. “Our luggage is checked but are the helicopters and cars of Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah also checked? Are there only clothes in their bags? Are (election) observers not able to see the money distribution going on in Maharashtra?” Mr Raut asked.
The inspection of Mr Thackeray’s luggage has become the latest flashpoint between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in poll-bound Maharashtra. While the Mahayuti leaders said Thackeray was afraid of his “stolen money” getting caught, the MVA sought to know if bags belonging to senior leaders of the ruling alliance were similarly checked during campaigning.
The row started over checking of Uddhav Thackeray’s luggage when he arrived at Yavatmal on Monday afternoon to address an election rally. Taking up arms for his party on Tuesday morning, Thackeray Sena strongman Sanjay Raut demanded to know if bags belonging to ruling party bigwigs – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde – were similarly checked when they were campaigning.
Earlier Mr Raut told reporters, “Our luggage, helicopter, private jet, cars… everything is checked. They search our homes also… but we don’t have a problem if it is done impartially. But, where Eknath Shinde and (Deputy Chief Ministers) Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis are contesting, ₹ 25 crores have already reached…” the Sena (UBT) leader said, alleging that cash is being exchanged for votes.
“The Election Commission does its work, we have no problem. But, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have sent Rs 25 crore each… Does the Election Commission check the luggage and helicopters of Mahayuti leaders? Do Mahayuti leaders have only underwear in their bags?” Raut said.
The rival Shiv Sena led by the chief minister Eknath Shinde and its alliance partner BJP hit back swiftly. The party spokesperson Krishna Hegde said Mr Raut has a “habit of making wild allegations” and pointed out Mr Shinde’s bags had, in fact, been checked. This was in Nashik, when the Chief Minister was campaigning for the April-June general election. “Shindeji did not make a fuss… didn’t create an uproar like the Uddhav Thackeray camp,” Mr Hegde declared. “I don’t know why they are making a fuss. If you have nothing to hide… why protest?” he asked.
A video of the officer caught in the political crossfire over the search of Mr Thackeray’s bag was shared on X by the party. The 150-second video shows the official being grilled by Mr Thackeray, who asks him his name and then says, “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?” Mr Thackeray asks, to which the officer says, “No, sir.” Mr Thackeray then declares to the officer – who says the senior leaders haven’t yet campaigned in the region – to make sure he inspects their bags when they do, and send him a video of the search. The officer then briefly checks a brown duffle and a blue icebox.
Mr Thackeray also found support from NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. “The power is in their hands. This is an attempt to trouble the opponents. 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 Chief Minister’s luggage was checked just to “humiliate” Thackeray. “When there is an election, Modi’s puppets become active. Today, to influence the election and humiliate Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, his helicopter was checked,” Sanjay Singh tweeted.
Amid a barrage of criticism from opposition leaders, the BJP also tried to hit back, questioning the hue and cry made by the MVA if Thackeray had nothing to hide. “Uddhav Thackeray threatening Election Commission officials for doing their job is the worst thing you will see today. His language is worse than a street lout. He asks them to check his ‘urine pot’ too. This disgraceful man was Maharashtra’s Chief Minister till sometime back. This is the ugly face of MVA,” Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT Cell chief, said.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur said it was a routine inspection by election officials. “The Election Commission does its work… they even inspect our bags. Why be afraid if there is nothing? A guilty conscience needs no accuser (chor ke dadhi me tinka),” Thakur said.
Former MP and veteran BJP leader Kirit Somaiya questioned if Uddhav Thackeray thought himself to be an emperor, as the luggage of all leaders cutting across political lines is checked by poll officials. “Devendra Fadnavis’s luggage is also checked. Does Uddhav Thackeray think himself to be an emperor? Uddhav is afraid that his stolen money will be caught,” Somaiya said.
Later, at a rally in the Wani Assembly seat, Mr Thackeray referred to the incident and advised allies to first confirm the identity of those asking to search their bags, and their pockets too. The furore over checking of bags plays out during every election, federal or state, with each party or alliance accusing the other of transporting vast amounts of cash to buy votes. The search of Mr Shinde’s bags in May was reportedly prompted by claims money was being transported. Officials said they found “nothing objectionable” in Mr Shinde’s bags.
After the row over Mr Thackeray’s bag being searched, EC sources said “strict” protocols were followed to check helicopters of political leaders during campaigning. Sources referred to another incident during the April-June general election, when choppers used by Amit Shah were checked. Sources said officials had been told to check all choppers to ensure a level playing field.
Voting for Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly seats will be held on November 20, with results due three days later. Mr Thackeray’s Sena group is allied with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party against the BJP and the Sena and NCP factions led by Mr Shinde and Ajit Pawar.