The saffron party will soon set up a well-equipped aviation cell at its headquarters in Ahmedabad, whose main task will be to hire aircraft and choppers for the smooth and fast movement of party leaders engaged in poll campaign.

Since the model code of conduct is in force, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his ministerial colleagues and party leaders cannot use the state-owned aircraft or chopper for election-related tours. In fact, Modi has already started using a private aircraft, allotted to him by the party, for campaigning in Maharashtra and Goa. He is the poll in-charge of these two states.

Jakshay Shah, who is attached to the proposed aviation cell, said: “We’ll create a special aviation cell at the state BJP headquarters in Ahmedabad soon after Holi when the final list of the party candidates for the LS polls is out. The cell will be manned by a team of trained technical persons, including two hired professional pilots.”

Shah told Newsline on Friday that the party plans to hire at least three helicopters and as many aircraft to facilitate both state and national-level party leaders to campaign across Gujarat during the general elections.

The choppers and aircraft will be four to five-seaters and will be hired mainly from private aviation companies as well as some leading corporate houses.

When asked, Shah said that besides a Global Positioning System (GPS), an “Air Traffic Control” (ATC) would also be set up at the party’s aviation cell.

This will ensure a smooth and safe landing for the leaders at venues where they are to address election meetings.

“We have drawn up plans to construct helipads at about 500 places across the state,” said Shah.

He said the two officers to be posted at the cell will not only chalk out election tour plans for the BJP’s star campaigners, but will also monitor the movement of choppers/aircraft by establishing a contact between the ATC at the party’s aviation cell and the ATCs of airports in major cities and towns in the state.

“Since Gujarat has quite a good number of air strips (over 40), the landing of small aircraft carrying the party leaders will be without any hassles,” he said, adding, that the BJP plans to hire at least 22 professional pilots to fly the campaigners.

ECI bans use of plastic in campaign material

For the first time, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has imposed a ban on the use of plastic by political parties in campaign literature. It has directed the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all the states to ensure that “eco-friendly” Lok Sabha elections are held in their respective states. Sources in the office of the Gujarat State CEO said on Friday that political parties and their candidates contesting the general elections will be asked to desist from using plastic in their poll campaign paraphernalia, such as party flag/symbol, banners and posters.

Sources said that political parties and their candidates were

often found preparing campaign paraphernalia from cheap recycled plastic material.

The local authorities often find it increasingly difficult to dispose of these things in constituencies of these candidates. As this sort of materials pose a great threat to environment, the decision to put a ban on their use has been taken, said a senior officer.