The Hindu Business Line : Will political parties benefit?

WILL the concessions for helicopters and aircraft up to 80 seaters announced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday make it easier on the purse of political parties to hire such machines for the forthcoming general elections?

The verdict on the issue is divided. While some feel that the move will make it easier for political parties to charter a helicopter and fly to every nook and corner of the country, others feel that this would be an over-simplification of the facts.

"During election time, helicopters are used to reach far-flung areas and reach out to the electorate. This means that as most of the time the helicopter is landing on `kuccha' areas, so whom will you pay the landing charges to. What the order means is that the person hiring the machine will not have to pay the one-or-two or possibly three landing charges which they will be making at major airport. But when a person is willing to spend Rs 100,000 to Rs 1,50,000, it is a moot point whether they would object to paying a few thousand of rupees towards landing charges," official sources said.

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