Congress, NCP star speakers miss poll rallies in Pune

Pune: Two star campaigners of the Congress had to miss their rallies on two consecutive days in the city.

Sachin Pilot could not hold the rally over permission issues, while Jyotiraditya Scindia was unable to conduct a public meeting as his charter plane could not land at Lohegaon airport in time.

Pilot’s rally was on Wednesday.

He had gone to Sangli and was expected to visit Pune. But permission for his rally within 48 hours before the rally could not be obtained.

Sources at Solapur airport told TOI that the Pune air traffic control did not give permission to Scindia’s aircraft to fly from Kolhapur to Pune.

Local Congress leaders said the BJP was making it difficult for opponents to hold rallies. “Scindia’s rally was late in the evening. He was to land at the airport an hour after the PM’s arrival. The schedule was given but permission was not granted. It is a conspiracy to create hurdles in our campaigning,” Avinash Bagwe said.

NCP’s member of Parliament Amol Kolhe too complained that many of his public meetings were cancelled because of Modi’s movement. “I had to fly to four places which include Chakan, Pimpri, Bhosari and Chinchwad for five rallies. At Erandol in Jalgaon, we were given permission to fly, but it was cancelled when I was to take off because of his movement. All my rallies were cancelled. I understand the security issues related to the PM but he was here in the capacity of a politician to address an election rally. Why are we made to suffer? Our right to campaigning is being denied,” MP Kolhe told TOI.