Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced a 45-minute delay on Friday as his helicopter was held up in Godda, Jharkhand, awaiting clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). The incident occurred during the final phase of campaigning for the state assembly elections.
The Congress party alleged that the delay was a deliberate attempt to disrupt Gandhi’s campaign schedule. Party leaders suggested that the ATC decision prioritized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Chakai, located about 150 kilometers away, over Gandhi’s travel plans.
Congress MLA and Mahagama constituency candidate Deepika Pandey Singh expressed outrage, stating, *”Just because the PM is in Deogarh, Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to cross that area. We understand protocol, but Congress ruled the country for 70 years, and such incidents never happened with opposition leaders. This is unacceptable.”*
The delay comes amid heightened political tensions and critical campaigning efforts by all major parties in the region.
