A controversy broke out on Tuesday in Assembly poll-bound Maharashtra over the checking of the helicopter of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, with his son and party leader Aaditya Thackeray accusing the “entirely compromised” Election of Commission of India (ECI) for delaying the campaign schedule of the Sena (UBT) president.

After a video showing Uddhav talking to election officials who had come search Uddhav’s helicopter went viral on social media, a miffed Aaditya charged that the ECI was shamelessly trying to delay the rallies of the Sena (UBT) by undertaking such searches and demanded to know why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers were not  being “frisked”.

“While the Entirely Compromised commission shamelessly carries on trying to delay Uddhav Thackeray ji to his sabhas by frisking, the question is, why isn’t the PM or other ministers visiting Maharashtra to promote bjp’s loot being frisked this way? What a disgrace it’s turning out to be- this institution,” Aaditya wrote on micro-blogging site “X”.

The video, which Uddhav himself shared it on social media after arriving at Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra for campaigning, showed the Sens (UBT) chief talking to the election officials who had come to search his election officials, and seeking their identification and appointment letters.“How many politicians have you searched so far?, he asked the officials.

After being told that his was the first helicopter that was being searched, Uddhav said: “Am I the first person to be searched? How come that I am always the first politician to be searched? Modi is coming today. Will you be searching for the helicopter of Modi? I demand Modi’s helicopter should be searched”

The video clip shows Uddhav letting search his bags in the helicopter. “ I have nothing against you people. What I am objecting to is the one-sided approach of the government .The same yardstick should be used for Modi as well. Modi is also coming to Maharashtra for campaigning,” Uddhav is shown telling the election officials in the video.          

On his part, Shiv Sena spokesperson and MP alleged that chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were distributing money in the run-up to the November 20 Assembly elections.

"We have no objection to the Election Commission doing its work. But, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have sent Rs 25 crore each for distribution among the people... Does the Election Commission check the luggage and helicopters of Mahayuti leaders? Do Mahayuti leaders have only underwear in their bags?" Raut asked.

Meanwhile, a report put out by a national news agency quoted “sources” in the ECI as clarifying that the aircraft and helicopters of top leaders across the political spectrum are checked as part of standard operating procedure (SOP).  The sources, as quoted by the news agency, claimed that in the previous polls too, the planes and helicopters of BJP President JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah were checked.

"There have been strict SOPs followed by enforcement agencies for a level-playing field. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a similar issue was raised in Bihar and it was clarified that the helicopters of prominent leaders, including Nadda, was checked in Bhagalpur district on April 24 while Shah's chopper was frisked in Katihar district on April 21 as per the SOP," the news agency quoted sources in the ECI as saying.

The sources  quoted by the news agency also recalled the statement of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as having already announced during the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 that he had given directions to the enforcement agencies to check the helicopters of all political leaders to ensure a level-playing field.