Patna: As Bihar awaits the results of the Assembly elections on November 14, details have emerged about the high-flying campaign trail that defined this election season. Helicopters and chartered planes were at the heart of the political race, with leaders from both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance clocking a total of 1,600 flying hours over two phases of voting.
According to official figures, NDA leaders flew for 1,200 hours, while Grand Alliance leaders spent 400 hours in the air. A total of 770 helicopter and chartered plane flights were conducted during the campaign, with daily expenses reaching around ₹2.5 crore.
Airborne Campaign Costs Soar Past 2020 Figures
This election marked a sharp rise in campaign air travel expenditure compared to the 2020 polls. The total cost jumped from ₹26 crore in 2020 to nearly ₹45 crore in 2025, representing a 1.5 times increase. The NDA accounted for the lion’s share of spending—₹34 crore—while the Grand Alliance spent ₹11 crore on helicopter services.
First Phase Grounded by Weather, Festivals
In the first phase of the campaign, helicopters and chartered planes flew 320 times, with NDA leaders making 256 flights and the Grand Alliance 64 flights. However, operations were grounded for five days due to Diwali, Chhath, and inclement weather. Campaigning covered 18 districts, with Madhepura and Saharsa being the farthest from Patna.
The second phase saw increased activity, with 450 flights in total—310 by NDA and 140 by Grand Alliance leaders. Voting took place across 20 districts in this phase.
Top Leaders Took to the Skies
The NDA’s star campaigners—Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states—relied heavily on helicopters to reach multiple rally venues each day.
For the Grand Alliance, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dominated the airwaves, often addressing more than a dozen rallies in a single day. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot, and Bhupesh Baghel also used helicopters extensively. Tej Pratap Yadav too campaigned by air.
14 Choppers for NDA, 2 Each for RJD and Congress
The NDA hired 14 helicopters, including 12 used by BJP leaders and two by JD(U) for Nitish Kumar and Lallan Singh. Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan also used NDA choppers for rallies.
The RJD rented two helicopters, one for Tejashwi Yadav and another for senior party leaders, while the Congress used two helicopters for its campaign operations.
Modi, Nitish, and Tejashwi Flew in Style
Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Bihar aboard the B777 aircraft (Air India One), equipped with missile defense systems, and later switched to the Mi-17V5 Air Force helicopter to reach rally sites.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flew in a twin-engine Airbus H145, costing around ₹2 crore per month in rent. The chopper seats eight passengers and features rear clamshell doors for easy access.
Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav campaigned in a Bell 429 twin-engine helicopter, known for its luxury interiors and leather seating, offering a mix of comfort and prestige.
The Helicopter Effect: Spectacle and Strategy
Beyond convenience, helicopters have become symbols of political power and spectacle in Bihar’s elections. They not only allowed leaders to reach remote areas swiftly but also drew crowds in villages eager to catch a glimpse of the aircraft. As Patna Airport’s hangars filled with choppers this season, it was clear that Bihar’s electoral battleground had truly taken to the skies.
