Election Commission Ensures Fair Play Ahead of Maharashtra Polls

The Election Commission's stringent checks on political leaders' bags and helicopters, including those of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, highlight efforts to uphold a fair election process. Controversy arose as some leaders questioned the impartiality of these checks.

The Election Commission performed rigorous inspections of the belongings of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Thursday. These checks occurred as Kharge's helicopter landed in Nashik, and Patole was preparing to campaign in the Goregaon Assembly constituency.

In Ahmednagar, Election Commission officials scrutinized the possessions of Uddhav Thackeray. This series of checks follows standard procedures, though not without controversy. Thackeray questioned whether officials were applying the same scrutiny to figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent leaders.

Despite the dissent, sources within the Election Commission maintained that these actions are based on established SOPs to ensure fair electoral practices. Earlier this week, authorities seized Rs 2.5 crore in cash from a Navi Mumbai location, illustrating the Commission's commitment to enforcing the model code of conduct ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)