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Thursday, Mar 31, 2011
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Copter controversy

K.M. Tampi Thiruvananthapuram

The hiring of a helicopter for electioneering by the Congress(I) is in the eye of a storm in Kerala. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee said it was mainly for the use of the national leaders campaigning in Kerala.

It added that State leaders could use it in an emergency. KPCC(I) president Ramesh Chennithala invoked that provision to make a short trip from Kottayam to Kayamkulam.

Not one to miss out on such the opportunity, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the Congress(I) could afford to hire a helicopter because it had enough money from deals like the 2G spectrum scam. He said it would not be surprising if Oommen Chandy (Leader of the Opposition) was given a helicopter as well, adding that LDF leaders would continue their campaign by car and on foot. However, the helicopter would not help the UDF to catch up with the LDF, the Chief Minister claimed.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, and his counterpart in the CPI, C.K. Chandrappan, have asked the Election Commission to include the cost of hiring the helicopter in the KPCC(I) president's election expenditure. Mr. Chennithala is contesting from the Harippad constituency. The KPCC(I)'s rejoinder to the charges was that helicopters have been used for electioneering in the past as well, and wondered why the LDF was raising a hue and cry over it now.

As for Mr. Chandy, he openly justified the use of helicopters. Hadn't the Chief Minister used a helicopter provided by the Defence Minister to reach Sabarimala, when the tragic stampede took place? Why is he allergic to helicopters now, he asked.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Nalini Netto, had the last word on the issue. She said that helicopters could be used for electioneering and that the expenditure for it would be included in that of the political parties.

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