Patna: The election battleground in Bihar has always been noisy on the ground — fiery speeches, slogans, and blaring campaign songs. But this year, the skies too will hum with a louder drone. Political parties have rushed to book helicopters, turning the state’s airspace into a contest of visibility, mobility and symbolism.
Sources say at least 21 helicopters are already booked, three-quarters of them by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with the rest split between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan. More bookings may follow as the campaign intensifies.
The machines, once a curiosity used sparingly to create spectacle, are now a necessity. Bihar’s geography and poor roads make it impossible for star campaigners to cover 10–12 public meetings daily without flying. “The pressure of contesting all 243 seats means we must rely on helicopters,” Tejashwi Yadav has said. His party, RJD, has already secured two. Congress too has booked two, while the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) is arranging one. The Left parties, strapped for resources, will largely stick to road vehicles. Independent leader Pappu Yadav, meanwhile, is said to be planning a helicopter of his own.
For the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has locked in a dozen machines, while allies JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas) are arranging one each. In total, the alliance is expected to field 15 helicopters across the state.
The scale of the aerial campaign is markedly different from past elections. In 2020, Covid restrictions meant the Election Commission even determined landing sites, limiting campaign flights. Still, Tejashwi Yadav famously managed 12 public meetings a day, once hitting a record 19 — only possible with helicopter logistics.
This year, the appetite is greater. For candidates, the helicopter is more than transport. It is a mobile stage, a status symbol, and a source of pride for supporters watching their leader descend from the sky. In the 1990s, Lalu Prasad mastered this spectacle, turning the sight of his helicopter into an extension of his populist appeal. For NDA leaders, though, the machines are framed as mere vehicles — functional, not symbolic.
Demand has also driven up costs. A single-engine helicopter now rents for Rs 1.25–1.5 lakh per hour, while a twin-engine costs Rs 2.5–3 lakh, plus 18% GST. Service providers insist on a minimum three-hour daily charge, whether the machine flies or not. For long-haul campaigns across Bihar’s sprawling districts, the bills will be steep — but the cost of losing, parties believe, would be steeper.
For villagers, however, the spectacle remains irresistible. Wherever a chopper lands, crowds gather, jostling for a glimpse. The roar of the rotor has become part of Bihar’s political theatre: a reminder that in this high-stakes contest, the fight for votes is waged not only on the ground but also in the skies.
