Bangalore: Politicians heli-hopping during election campaigning is not new, but the use of choppers this time has come down significantly in Karnataka due to their non-availability.
According to the owner of a Bangalore-based private aviation company, aircraft from Karnataka have been hired by political leaders of other states and hence their services are not available for local leaders.
“Helicopters from Bangalore are preferred since the pilots and services here are better. The charges for hiring a helicopter for 20-30 minutes vary between Rs 1.4 lakh and Rs 1.6 lakh depending on whether it is a single-engine or double-engine aircraft. The hire charges were around Rs 80,000 during the last elections,” he said.
Enquiries with major political parties in the State revealed that only six politicians have used choppers for campaigning since March 26. Those who took the aerial route are Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC?president G Parameshwara, former chief ministers B S Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa.
04/04/14 Bosky Khanna/Deccan Herald
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According to the owner of a Bangalore-based private aviation company, aircraft from Karnataka have been hired by political leaders of other states and hence their services are not available for local leaders.
“Helicopters from Bangalore are preferred since the pilots and services here are better. The charges for hiring a helicopter for 20-30 minutes vary between Rs 1.4 lakh and Rs 1.6 lakh depending on whether it is a single-engine or double-engine aircraft. The hire charges were around Rs 80,000 during the last elections,” he said.
Enquiries with major political parties in the State revealed that only six politicians have used choppers for campaigning since March 26. Those who took the aerial route are Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC?president G Parameshwara, former chief ministers B S Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa.
04/04/14 Bosky Khanna/Deccan Herald
