Uddhav Thackeray upset as poll officials check his bags

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had a heated exchange with Election Commission (EC) officials on Monday over their move to check his bags upon his arrival in Yavatmal for a public rally, amid the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in place. Thackeray asked if the EC authorities would also inspect the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders. He also demanded the officials to send a video of bags also being checked of PM Modi, union home minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

Thackeray made a video of the incident showing EC officials checking his bags at the helipad in Wani. He also asked the EC officials, “Which political leaders’ bags have you checked before checking mine? Have you checked Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Modi and Amit Shah’s bags? I should get to watch a video of you checking Modi’s bags.” Later addressing a public meeting at Wani, he asked his party workers and voters to also check the pockets and identity cards of the officials who check them.

Saying that he was not miffed with the election authorities, he added, “You are following your responsibility and I will perform my responsibility.” “All these useless things are going on. I don't consider it democratic.

This can’t be a democracy. In a democracy, no one is big or small,” Thackeray said. According to officials, with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) .