Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday made a dramatic entry to an election rally in West Bengal's Birbhum district, but not in his own helicopter. The politician, who is also the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, revealed he had to borrow a chopper from Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren after his own aircraft was denied clearance by aviation authorities.
Allegations of Political 'Tricks' by BJP
Addressing the gathering at Rampurhat, an apologetic yet defiant Banerjee directly blamed the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the last-minute hurdle. He labeled the non-clearance as a deliberate "trick" intended to prevent him from reaching the venue. "The election has not yet commenced. But through SIR, BJP has started their tricks. My chopper was not given clearance," Banerjee told the crowd. He added a strong retort, "BJP thinks these tricks will stop me, but I am 10 times more stubborn than BJP."
An Improvised Solution for the Rally
Faced with the sudden logistical blockade, Banerjee said he reached out to Jharkhand's Chief Minister for help. "Since my chopper didn’t receive clearance, I spoke to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and arranged for his chopper to come for this meeting," he explained. The TMC later clarified that the party had "rented" the helicopter from Soren with assistance from the Jharkhand government, ensuring Banerjee could fulfill his commitment to address supporters.
His determination was palpable as he stated he was prepared to address the rally no matter how small the turnout caused by his delay. "I had decided, come what may, I would be reaching the venue as a Trinamool soldier to address even 10 people if they were present at the venue," Banerjee asserted. He expressed gratitude for the large crowd that had waited patiently, noting the significant presence of women supporters both inside and outside the ground.
The DGCA Clearance Controversy
Earlier, the ruling TMC had officially claimed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) provided no approval for Banerjee's planned helicopter flight. This incident has sparked a fresh political controversy, with the TMC framing it as an abuse of power and systemic obstruction by the central government agencies, which they allege are influenced by the BJP.
The episode highlights the high-stakes and often contentious nature of election campaigning in India, where logistics and mobility can become unexpected battlegrounds. It also underscores the political alliances at play, with Banerjee securing assistance from a chief minister of a different state and party to counter a perceived common adversary.
