Mallikarjun Kharge was checked in Maharashtra's Nashik and CM Pramod Sawant's baggage was checked at Goa's Karad airport.
Election Commission officials on Thursday checked the bag of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in view of the Maharashtra assembly elections. It was also videographed. He came for election campaign in Nashik district.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole's helicopter and bag were inspected by election officials today. The helicopter was inspected at the Tirora helipad. Patole was going to campaign for the NCP (SP) candidate from the Goregaon assembly seat.
On the other hand, the baggage of Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant was also checked at Karad Airport. A day before on Wednesday, CM Eknath Shinde's luggage was checked. He went to Palghar city of the state for election campaigning.
In the meantime Shinde told the officer- there are clothes in it… the officer said yes. After this Shinde said – there are clothes, no urine pot etc. Shinde's comment was a mockery of Uddhav's statement. Apart from this, the helicopter of Union Minister Ramdas Athavale was also checked.
In fact, Uddhav Thackeray's luggage was also checked twice at the helipad on November 11 and 12. Uddhav then shared his video, in which he said – check my bag, but now I want a video of you guys checking Modi's bag. No wagging your tail there.
After this, Nitin Gadkari's bag was checked by the EC in Latur on Tuesday. Currently, the helicopters of Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have also been checked. The BJP had also released the video of Fadnavis' helicopter search on Wednesday itself.
Pictures of Shinde-Athwale's luggage checking…
Officials opening food boxes kept in Shinde's helicopter.
Shinde's bag and briefcase were opened and searched.
EC officials inspecting Athavale's helicopter.
Fadnavis said- My bag was also checked, what is wrong with it
BJP released the video of checking Fadnavis' bag.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's bag was searched in Latur on November 12. He came to campaign for BJP candidate Abhimanyu Pawar from Ausa Assembly. Fadnavis' bag was searched in Kolhapur on November 5. Ajit Pawar himself released the video and said that his bag was checked by EC officials during the election campaign.
Devendra Fadnavis said, “My bags were searched in Kolhapur, then they were also searched on November 7. Uddhav is misleading people by protesting the search, they are shouting to get votes. What's wrong with bag checking? Our bags are also checked during election campaigns, but some people have a habit of doing drama.
Ajit Pawar said- respect for law is necessary for democracy
Ajit Pawar released a video of himself with Election Commission officials.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, “My bag was checked during election campaigning today. Election Commission officials also came on my helicopter for a routine checkup. I fully cooperated. I believe such a process is necessary for fair elections. We The law should be respected.
Uddhav said – check Modi's bag too, don't pat your tail there
Election Commission officials checked Uddhav Thackeray's bag on November 11 in Yavatmal and on November 12 in Osmanabad.
Uddhav Thackeray was furious over the action of the Election Commission. He said on Tuesday- 'Last time when PM Modi's helicopter was checked, an officer was suspended in Odisha. You check my bag, no problem, but Modi and Shah's bags should be checked too.
Uddhav made a video of officials checking bags and shared it on social media. In the video, Uddhav asked the officers to check Modi-Shah's bags as well. Check my bag, but now I want a video of you guys checking Modi's bag. No wagging your tail there. Check what you need to do. I am releasing this video.
On Uddhav's allegations, the Election Commission said- 'During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the helicopters of prominent leaders of the ruling party were inspected. On April 24, 2024, the helicopter of BJP National President JP Nadda was inspected in Bhagalpur district of Bihar and on April 21, 2024, the helicopter of Union Home Minister Amit Shah was inspected in Katihar district of Bihar.
Conversation between Uddhav Thackeray and the investigating officer
Uddhav: what is your name
Officer: My name is Amol.
Uddhav Thackeray: Where do you live? Officer: I am a resident of Amravati.
Uddhavah Amravati is fine..but whose bags have you checked so far? Which leaders bags were checked before me?
Officer: I've never done this with anyone before, it's only been 4 months.
Uddhavah You have not checked a single bag in 4 months. Am I the first customer you got?
Officer: No sir… nothing like that. Uddhav: No, you check my bag, I won't stop you. When you check my bag, tell me that you have checked Mindhe's (Eknath Shinde) bag yet? Have you checked the bags of Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Modi, Amit Shah?
Officer: Didn't, I didn't get a chance.
Uddhav: Send me a video of Modi checking his bag when he comes. No wagging your tail there. Want to check the fuel tank too?
Officer: No sir.
Election Commission official Amol checked Uddhav's luggage. Meanwhile, Uddhav asked him many questions.
After checking the bag, the AAP MP said – the public will surely take revenge
AAP MP Sanjay Singh said- No one in Maharashtra had the courage to mistreat Balasaheb Thackeray's party, the way party leader Uddhav Thackeray was mistreated, the people of Maharashtra will learn a lesson.
Sanjay Singh said- Is Uddhav Thackeray not allowed to campaign? Can't they campaign for their candidates? Was Amit Shah's helicopter ever checked? Was Narendra Modi's helicopter ever inspected? You want to suppress the opposition.
In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP fell from 23 to 9 seats
Out of the 48 seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 30 seats and the NDA 17 seats. In which BJP got 9 seats, Shiv Sena got 7 seats and NCP got only 1 seat. BJP has lost 23 seats. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, NDA won 41 seats compared to 42 seats in 2014.
Estimated loss of BJP according to Lok Sabha Elections
If the Maharashtra Assembly elections follow the same trend as the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will suffer. BJP will be reduced to around 60 seats. At the same time, an opposition coalition survey projected MVA to get 160 seats. Maratha agitation is the biggest challenge for BJP. Apart from this, people sympathize with Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar after the split between Shiv Sena and NCP.
Assembly Elections- 2019
In 2019, there was a BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. BJP won 105 and Shiv Sena 56 seats. NCP got 54 seats and Congress got 44 seats from the alliance. BJP-Shiv Sena could have easily come to power, but the alliance broke up due to differences. On 23 November 2019, Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister. However, both resigned on November 26 before the majority test. On 28 November, Shiv Sena (undivided), NCP (undivided) and Congress' Mahavikas Aghadi came to power. After this, there was a split between the Shiv Sena (undivided) and the NCP (undivided) and these two parties split into four factions. However, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray gained in the Lok Sabha elections. Now the Assembly elections are also being held on this background.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
