It is Cong-2; BJP-2, AIUDF-1 AGP-0.
No we are not talking of Lok Sabha results. We are only taking of Helicopters hired by the political parties in Assam for Lok Sabha poll.
With Rs 3 lakh per hour bill, the political parties feel that helicopters are must for the electioneering to cover the entire state.
"It is expensive but it is worth it" said a BJP leader handling the Helicopter movement.
The ruling BJP, principal opposition party Congress, as well as the AIUDF, have already hired choppers for poll campaign.
"We have booked two choppers. Both are twin-engine. Our senior leaders, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma, will use one of them, while the other will be used to ferry our star campaigners and visiting national level leaders for campaigning," a senior State BJP leader told media.
The BJP believes that the two helicopters will be sufficient for electioneering. "There will be pressure as the star campaigners will move in. But we will manage" said the BJP leader adding that three phases have made it little easier.
The Congress party is also not lagging behind. It has also hired two helicopters for the party's election campaign in Assam.
"Both are twin-engine choppers. They will be utilized by our senior leaders once filing of nominations is completed and full-fledged campaigning begins," said a senior Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) office-bearer.
Meanwhile, the AIUDF has booked a single-engine chopper for use during the election campaign.
"It will be for use by our party president Badruddin Ajmal, who is also our main campaigner," said a leader of the AIUDF.
In contrast, regional player AGP has, however, decided not to use choppers for campaigning.
"We are only contesting from three constituencies and as such we do not need to use helicopters. But, in case we feel that we have to use choppers in the later phase of electioneering, our party will think of hiring one," said a senior AGP leader.
The political parties are tightly lipped about the details regarding the expenditure being borne for hiring the helicopters.
