Even though polling amid pandemic remains a big questionand political leaders say it was the decision of Election Commission of Indiaand they had no role in it. But do they even have no role in ensuring covid19protocols despite knowing that the second wave is even more deadly.
Now when West Bengal is reeling under an acute shortageof Covid-19 vaccines amidst a dreary long eight-phase assembly election, butleaders campaigning there have already spent Rs 100 crore to fly around topitch for votes.
As per information, at least 90 per cent of this spendingcan be traced to BJP because their star campaigners like PM Narendra Modi, HomeMinister Amit Shah, BJP president J.P. Nadda and Minister Smriti Irani werefrom outside the state.
However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a select fewin Trinamool Congress have flown around, specially to North Bengal.
"But this is mainly because Didi is injured and longtravels by road impacts on her leg. We don't have the kind of funds the BJP hasmobilised, so we have used helicopters sparingly," said Trinamool MPKakoli Ghosh Dastidar.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders justified the expenses on airtravel as 'unavoidable' in a fierce election battle like West Bengal.
A BJP state unit office bearer on condition of anonymityas he was not authorised to speak to media, said "Tagra larai me golijyada lagta hai", (you need more ammunition in a fierce battle).
A 7-seater Eurocopter charges Rs 2 lakh per hour and asenior leader ends up campaigning for five hours, runs up a bill of Rs 10 lakh.Add the parking and waiting charges and those for post evening charges, asenior leader can end up spending Rs 15 to 20 lakh for air-hop campaigns.
A twin-engine 20 seater helicopter charges Rs 2.5 lakhper hour. Private Jets costing double that have been also used frequently,atleast thirty times since March 15.
Statistics garnered from Calcutta, Andal and Bagdograairports points to a total gross spending of Rs 98.73 crore so far on use ofhelicopters and light aircrafts from Match 15 to April 20. Meanwhile, LeftFront leaders have not used air travel within the state.
"Only our senior leaders have paid for air travel toreach Bengal from outside but none used exclusive facilities. They travelled inflights with common passengers," said CPI-M spokesperson DebashisChakrabarty.
Out of power in Bengal for 10 years, the Left is forcedto spend carefully. Analyst Sukhoranjan Dasgupta explains the BJP's high airbills to 'lack of star campaigners within the state’.
"BJP poll strategy this time resembled carpetbombing by top leaders in maximum possible number of meetings. For that,heli-hopping is a must," he said.
Besides, Bengal Chief Minister hired Prashant Kishor asits election strategist, and BJP left no stone unturned to vow the voters ofBengal. Stakes are high for political parties in West Bengal this time, makingit the most expensive elections in the state's recent memory.
State police and enforcement branch have reported seizureof nearly Rs 250 crore in cash, liquor and other gifts linked to polls in thelast two months.
Amid the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections, cash andother items worth Rs 248.9 crore has been seized till now in the state, saidthe additional chief electoral officer Sanjoy Basu.
"Total seizure of cash and items worth Rs 248.9crore has been done till now. This includes Rs 37.72 crore of cash, liquorworth Rs 9.5 crores and drugs worth Rs 114.44 crore, among others," hesaid.