Kalpana claims flight permit denied, alleges oppn conspiracy

Jamshedpur: JMM star campaigner Kalpana Soren alleged that she was prevented from flying to campaign in Latehar on Monday and blamed the BJP and the opposition parties of hindering her parties' efforts to reach the people". The saffron party, however, said that it is JMM's way of covering up for their impending defeat.

In a series of posts on X, Kalpana reported being initially denied permission to take off from Ghatshila in East Singhbhum for a public rally in Jagannathpur, West Singhbhum. Although she eventually reached Jagannathpur, she was subsequently stopped from flying to Latehar, compelling her to address the party rally there virtually from her grounded helicopter.

"After completing the Jagannathpur programme, officials informed me there's no permission for the helicopter to fly," Kalpana said. She accused the BJP and opposition parties of conspiring to disrupt her campaign on the final day of campaigning ahead of the first phase of polling scheduled on November 13.

Addressing crowds at both locations, Kalpana claimed the BJP was intimidated by chief minister Hemant Soren's popularity, the JMM, and the INDIA bloc. "Their desperate attempts to prevent us from reaching the people will receive a strong response from Jharkhand," she said in her video post.

Earlier that day, Kalpana, who represents Gandey constituency, had campaigned for party candidate Sameer Mohanty in Chakulia, Baharagora.

The incident follows a similar situation reported by CM Hemant Soren, who tweeted about his helicopter being grounded four days earlier. The CM referenced a 30-minute delay in his chopper's take-off in West Singhbhum on November 4, coinciding with Prime Minister's election rally visit to Chaibasa.

Contacted, West Singhbhum superintendent of police Ashutosh Shekhar and deputy commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary declined to comment on the matter.