Lok Sabha elections: Helicopters set to flood Patna airport

PATNA: With electioneering for the Lok Sabha polls gathering pace in the state, helicopters have started arriving at JPNI airport for use by political parties.

The first helicopter engaged for electioneering took off from state hangar at Patna airport on Monday carrying RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and VIP chief Mukesh Sahni.

On the first day of RJD’s election campaign on Monday, Tejashwi addressed public meetings at Gaya, Banka and Bhagalpur. Tejashwi’s political adviser Sanjay Yadav and RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari also accompanied him.

According to Patna airport officials, the helicopter hired by RJD arrived at the state hangar at JPNI airport from Delhi via Lucknow around 10.46am and departed for electioneering work at 11.10am. The twin-engine helicopter – Bell 407 – returned to the airport at 6pm, the official added.

Santosh Kumar, assistant general manager (air traffic management) at Patna airport, told this newspaper that as per the instruction of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the air traffic control (ATC) has been keeping a tab on all private choppers and chartered flights. “We are keeping the records of helicopters and chartered flights used for electioneering. For instance, the chopper used by RJD on Monday is operated by Aryan Aviation Private Limited,” he said, adding different political parties have already shared their travel plans with the ATC.

As per the directive of ECI, the ATC has also shared the records of the scheduled helicopters with the chief electoral officers and district election officers.

Rate for hiring a five-seater Bell helicopter is Rs 75,000 per hour, plus additional charges, which can go up to Rs 20,000 per hour.

Tejashwi’s father and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad used to describe choppers as ‘udan khatola’ in the 90s. Helicopters are the first preference of politicians as they help them to reach out to maximum constituents during the election campaign. Chartered aircraft, on the other hand, are less popular among politicians in the state due to lack of properly maintained airstrips in most districts.

State RJD president Ram Chandra Purve said the party is hiring choppers as per requirement of star campaigners. “One chopper has already arrived for electioneering work. Most RJD leaders will do traditional door-to-door campaign,” he said.

Choppers hired by Congress are likely to reach here by April 28 or 29. Kaukab Quadri, acting president of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee said the party needed at least two choppers. “All India Congress Committee (AICC) members are looking after the process of hiring choppers. They are in talks with a Mumbai-based private aviation company,” he said.

JD(U) is also likely to hire two choppers. One chopper will be extensively used by CM Nitish Kumar.

State BJP president Nityanand Rai said the central leadership of the party has been working on the requirement of choppers for star campaigners. “We are expecting that the choppers would arrive here by first week of April,” he said.

Single or twin-engine choppers of different aviation companies, including Eurocopter, Bell, Pilatus, Ecureuil, Agusta and Sikorsky, ranging from pilot plus three to 11-seater variants are likely to fly in Bihar during electioneering over the next two months.

According to sources, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM(S) may also hire one chopper.