In a recent development amid the ongoing bag-check controversy, Election Commission (EC) officials inspected the luggage of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district on Friday. Amit Shah shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing EC officials examining his helicopter luggage upon his arrival in Hingoli to address a public meeting.
Watch:
VIDEO | Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Poll officials check bags of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hingoli. #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024 pic.twitter.com/sWl2omYysV
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2024
“Today, during my election campaign in Hingoli Assembly constituency of Maharashtra, my helicopter was inspected by Election Commission officials. BJP believes in fair elections and a healthy election system and follows all the rules made by the Honourable Election Commission. We all must contribute to a healthy election system and perform our duties in keeping India as the strongest democracy in the world,” Amit Shah stated in his post.
This incident follows similar inspections earlier in the week, where EC officials checked the bags of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar during their visits to address public rallies in the state.
The bag-checking issue gained prominence after a video of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray went viral on social media. In the video, Thackeray is seen questioning EC officials about whether they conduct similar inspections for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the deputy chief ministers when they attend public meetings.
The EC’s actions are part of routine checks to ensure compliance with the Model Code of Conduct during election periods. These inspections aim to prevent the distribution of cash or gifts intended to influence voters. The EC maintains that such checks are conducted impartially, regardless of the political affiliation of the individuals involved.
The bag-checking controversy has sparked debates about the impartiality of EC officials and the transparency of election protocols. While some political leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with these inspections, others, like Amit Shah, have reiterated their commitment to adhering to EC guidelines to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
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As Maharashtra prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections, the EC continues to implement measures to ensure free and fair elections, including the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and the monitoring of campaign activities across all political parties.