Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s helicopter was inspected by election officials in Palghar on Wednesday, where he was campaigning for the upcoming Assembly elections. A video shared by India Today TV showed Shinde speaking with officials as they conducted the search and checked his belongings.

The search came after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray complained about his bags being inspected twice, once in Yavatmal and again in Latur, alleging these checks were intended to hassle opposition leaders. Thackeray himself recorded video footage of officials going through his belongings, questioning whether Chief Minister Shinde and his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, were subjected to similar scrutiny. He also asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah had their bags checked when visiting Maharashtra for campaign events.

Election officials responded that these checks were standard procedures required by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to maintain a “level playing field” during the election season. Regular surprise inspections are conducted to prevent potential attempts to influence voters through cash or gifts.

Earlier in the week, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s helicopter was also inspected by officials upon his arrival in Latur. In a show of transparency, the BJP shared footage of Devendra Fadnavis’s belongings being inspected as well, underscoring the checks’ routine nature.

Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister, added that he too had cooperated with poll officials during a similar check. “Such measures are essential for free and fair elections,” he said, calling for support of the enforcement efforts.

Uddhav Thackeray, who resigned as Chief Minister in 2022 following an internal party rift led by Shinde, remarked that opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi members would conduct their own inspections if ruling party leaders’ belongings were not being checked.

Maharashtra’s Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with vote counting set for three days later.