Fri Nov 15 11:03:14 UTC 2024: ## Election Commission Checks Luggage of Amit Shah, Sparking Further Controversy in Maharashtra
**Hingoli, Maharashtra:** In a move that has further fueled political tensions in poll-bound Maharashtra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s luggage was inspected by Election Commission (EC) officials on Friday. This follows a series of similar checks on high-profile political leaders in recent days, sparking accusations of selective targeting.
Shah, who was in Hingoli to address an election rally, shared a video of the inspection on social media, emphasizing the BJP’s commitment to a fair election system. He maintained that the party follows all EC rules and urged everyone to contribute to a healthy election process.
The controversy surrounding luggage inspections began last Monday when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray’s bags were checked by officials. This triggered a heated exchange between Thackeray and an official, with the former questioning the EC’s selective approach. He accused the EC of not checking bags of leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Mahayuti alliance.
To counter these claims, the Maharashtra BJP released a video on Wednesday showing the checking of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ luggage. They also pointed out that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s luggage was also inspected as part of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Shinde dismissed the controversy in an interview with NDTV, stating that luggage checks are a routine procedure conducted by EC officials. He questioned why the opposition was creating a fuss and expressing fear over the checks.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in Maharashtra ahead of the upcoming elections. The Opposition has alleged that the EC is targeting specific parties and leaders while the ruling BJP has maintained that the inspections are standard protocol. The situation remains tense with both sides accusing each other of politicizing the issue.
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