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The routine security check of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's luggage at a rally in Yavatmal has sparked a political firestorm between his faction of the Shiv Sena and the group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, ahead of the state's upcoming Assembly elections. This incident, seemingly a standard security protocol, has been blown out of proportion, highlighting the simmering tensions between the two factions of the once-united party.
Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader from Uddhav Thackeray's faction, has accused the Election Commission of bias, questioning why the luggage of ruling party heavyweights like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were not subjected to similar scrutiny during their respective campaigns. The Shinde faction, however, has swiftly rebutted these allegations, stating that Shinde's bags were indeed checked during his campaigning for the April-June general election in Nashik. They further emphasized that Shinde, unlike Thackeray's camp, did not raise any objections to the check, highlighting a perceived difference in their reactions to the security measure.
The controversy surrounding the bag check has also brought to the fore allegations of vote-buying. Raut alleged that a hefty sum of Rs 25 crores has already been distributed in constituencies where Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis are contesting. This claim, coupled with the accusations of biased treatment by the Election Commission, paints a picture of a politically charged atmosphere in Maharashtra, where the upcoming elections are expected to be fiercely contested. Raut's allegations also echo previous controversies surrounding checks of Modi's helicopter in 2019, where an official was suspended and then reinstated amid public outcry.
The incident of the bag check is not isolated, as it is a recurring phenomenon during elections, both at the state and national level. Each party or alliance typically accuses the other of employing underhanded tactics, including transporting large sums of money to sway voters. In May, the check of Shinde's bags was reportedly triggered by allegations of illicit money transport. Despite the routine nature of such checks, the Thackeray camp has seized upon the incident as a potential sign of bias and unfair treatment, fueling the already charged political atmosphere in Maharashtra.
Source: "If Nothing To Hide...": Sena vs Sena In Uddhav Thackeray Bag Check Row