The Hindu : National : It is a sky-high campaign in Bihar

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Thursday, Feb 17, 2005

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National

It is a sky-high campaign in Bihar

By Vidya Subrahmaniam

The BJP MP and film star, Hema Malini, boarding a helicopter at the Patna airport on Wednesday. - Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

PATNA, FEB. 16. The place to catch VVIPs these days is the airport hangar at Patna. This impressive abode of some 18 or so helicopters is where they descend every morning — and again in the evening — surrounded by kurta-pyjama clad henchmen and chased by television channels hankering for the quote of the day. For the electronic media it is an opportunity they will not miss for anything: coax a quote out of one politician and provoke another for a reaction so that by evening there is enough to make a spicy headline.

On a typical day, the netas (leaders) and abhinetas (actors) will arrive one by one. Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan and Rabri Devi are followed closely by George Fernandes, Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha — all headed for helicopters that will fly them far and wide across Bihar. More often than not they manage not to cross one another's path. However, there are days when the peak-hour traffic causes jams — very awkward ones. Sworn enemies Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan can suddenly come face-to-face as can "not-so-good" friends Nitish Kumar and Shatrughan Sinha.

Chartered planes

Not every political party owns a chopper; indeed most charter the helicopters from private companies such as Pawn Hans, Trans Bharat, Deccan Aviation and Raymonds. The charge per flying hour is Rs. 65,000, which for a month of campaigning works out to a quite a hefty sum, especially given that each party uses at least three craft every day from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Travel by helicopter is hardly much fun, considering the dust and noise the passengers have to endure. Yet it is not so much the VVIPs as the pilots who emerge fatigued and weather-worn after a day's journey.

And no prizes for guessing why. The VVIP passengers they fly would rather extend the time just that bit and squeeze in an extra public meeting than follow aviation safety and rules.

For instance, on Monday, Patna was lashed by a severe dust storm, which caused many helicopters that had taken off to make a hasty return. Among them was the Deccan Aviation flight carrying the Janata Dal (United)'s George Fernandes and Digvijay Singh. Capt. Naidu, who flew the chopper, told The Hindu : "With a wind speed of 20 knots going up to 30 knots, there was no way I could take the risk."

Nonetheless, there was another craft that went ahead, braving the bad weather.

The passenger on board was none other than Lalu Prasad. The wind speed along the route was so strong that the helicopter shook with the impact. At which point, the captain pleaded with the Rastriya Janata Dal chief to consider curtailing his itinerary.

"No way." said Mr. Prasad. "I'm a Bihari and I will not be scared like this," said the Railway Minister. Needless to say, Mr. Prasad completed the journey.

With so many politicians taking off for the skies simultaneously, often there are other problems too.

On Tuesday, Ram Vilas Paswan was aboard a Trans Bharat helicopter piloted by Capt. N. Malhan. The first meeting went off like clockwork. The chopper was about to descend for the next meeting when suddenly Mr. Paswan noticed that the crowds below had gathered for an RJD meeting. So up went the craft again. But there was still no sign of the Lok Jan Shakti Party meeting. The chopper then landed in the fields, in the manner of a hired taxi, much to the delight of local villagers who told the pilot how to get to the elusive venue. Thanks to this adventurous detour, Mr. Paswan was way behind schedule and Capt. Malhan landed back at Patna airport with minutes to spare for the sunset — the absolute deadline for a helicopter to return to base.

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