Uddhav Thackeray, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
Uddhav Thackeray, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council

On Monday, Uddhav Thackeray asserted that government officials inspected his bags upon his arrival in Yavatmal to campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for November 20. The ex-chief minister asked if the election officials would examine the luggage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent leaders as well.

Uddhav Thackeray spoke about the supposed incident during a public gathering held in favor of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sanjay Derkar in Wani, Yavatmal. The president of Shiv Sena (UBT) mentioned that upon arriving in Wani by helicopter, various government officials inspected his luggage. He urged party workers and voters to inspect the pockets and ID cards of the officials who examine them.

Uddhav Thackeray noted that he wasn’t upset with the election officials. Nonetheless, he stated, “You are fulfilling your duty and I will fulfill mine.” “The manner in which you inspected my bag, will you inspect the bags of Modi and Shah similarly?” questioned the Shiv Sena (UBT) president, inquiring if the bags of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis should also be inspected.

Uddhav Thackeray stated, “These pointless activities are taking place; I don’t view it as democratic, this cannot be true democracy.” “There is no large or tiny in democracy.” He stated that if the election officials don’t inspect the bags of (senior leaders of the ruling alliance), then the members of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the opposition MVA will do so. Thackeray stated that the Election Commission and police should refrain from interference, as voters too have the right to inspect their bags when the senior leaders of the ruling parties arrive for campaigning.