Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose bag check dominated the political discussions on the poll-bound state today, played it down in an interview with NDTV, saying it was a routine matter for him.

Eknath Shinde`s luggage was checked by ECI officials in Palghar as part of SOPs, sparking debate after similar checks on Uddhav Thackeray`s luggage.

Election officials also checked the bags of Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. Maharashtra BJP posted a video showing Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ bags being checked by security personnel at Kolhapur airport.

The baggage-check routine of the Election Commission is extending to Chief Ministers now it seems. On Thursday, Election Commission officials searched Goa CM Pramod Sawant's bag at the Karad airport in Maharashtra's Satara district,

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde's bags were checked by Election Commission's officials in Palghar on Wednesday. Shinde's bags were checked after his helicopter landed at the Palghar Police ground helipad.

In a video obtained by India Today TV, the chief minister was seen engaging with the poll officials as they checked the helicopter and skimmed through his belongings.