Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed on Friday that his helicopter was inspected by Election Commission (EC) officials during his campaign in Maharashtra’s Hingoli Assembly constituency. Shah emphasized the BJP’s commitment to fair elections and adherence to EC rules.
“Today, during my election campaign in Hingoli Assembly constituency of Maharashtra, my helicopter was inspected by Election Commission officials. BJP believes in fair elections and a healthy election system and follows all the rules made by the Honourable Election Commission,” Shah wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He further added, “We all must contribute to a healthy election system and perform our duties in keeping India as the strongest democracy in the world.”
Shah’s statement comes in the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding the inspection of political leaders’ belongings. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had expressed anger over the checking of his bags during the campaign, terming it an insult.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule also weighed in, condemning the incident as an act of “dirty politics.” Sule alleged that while Thackeray’s bags were checked twice, similar scrutiny was not applied to leaders in power.
“Why is there a double standard? This kind of selective inspection undermines trust in the election process,” Sule remarked.
With Maharashtra’s Assembly elections just days away, the inspection of high-profile leaders’ belongings has sparked political debates. While the BJP projects the inspections as a testament to its support for electoral transparency, opposition leaders argue that such actions reflect selective targeting and misuse of power.
The Election Commission has yet to officially respond to the growing controversy, but the incident underscores the rising tensions as political parties intensify their campaigns in the state.