Helicopters will be used extensively for campaigning in Bihar Assembly elections 2025. Both NDA and Grand Alliance have made preparations for the air campaign. BJP has hired 6 helicopters, JDU 3 and RJD 2 helicopters.
Patna: The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections will now be fought not on the ground but also in the air. This time the air will echo with the roar of helicopters. Both the NDA and the Grand Alliance have prepared fleets of helicopters to intensify the campaign. Figures show that BJP has hired six helicopters, JDU three and RJD two, which will fly the leaders from one stage to another and from one meeting to another on a minute-by-minute basis.
BJP’s ‘air supremacy’ plan in the sky
BJP has already prepared the largest aerial network for its campaign in this election. The party has booked six state-of-the-art helicopters—which will be used for the meetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda and several Union ministers.
BJP strategists say that this time their focus is on “reaching out to as many people as possible in a short period of time”. Preparations for Modi-Shah rallies are in full swing in every corner of the state—Siwan, Munger, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga and Sasaram. Each helicopter will conduct four to five sorties daily. Party sources say that advance payment has been made to air charter companies a week in advance.
JDU’s ‘good governance show’ with three helicopters
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will start his election campaign from October 10. JDU has hired three helicopters for them—one for Nitish, two for JDU national presidents Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha, and the third for the party’s media campaign. These helicopters will fly in four districts daily. Party sources say that Nitish will spread the message of “development and stability” from the air in this election.
RJD’s ‘public relations mission’ with 2 helicopters
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has hired two helicopters. The party wants Tejashwi’s rallies to be held in rural areas, especially in areas where the Grand Alliance had lost seats in 2020. According to a senior leader associated with RJD’s media cell, “Tejashwi Yadav will hold rallies in three to four districts every day. His slogan in the air will remain the same – ‘Bihar badlega, rojgar laayega.'”
political excitement increased
Now when leaders of every major party are traveling by helicopter, the election atmosphere is more heated than ever. According to charter companies, there will be movement of more than 20 helicopters every day at Patna airport. The administration has formed a special team for security and air traffic management during this period.
Charter companies have a great day
Three big aviation companies of Patna, Delhi and Ranchi – Heritage Aviation, Indemar Aviation and OSS Air – have received contracts worth crores of rupees from these parties. The average charter cost of a helicopter is Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh per hour. Therefore, the “air expenses” alone during the elections are estimated at more than Rs 100 crore.