Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the ruling party in Jharkhand, wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking her intervention after the delay in take-off of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s helicopter in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s safety.

JMM leader Manoj Pandey said, “This is a very serious matter. In a democracy, there should be a level playing field for campaigning during elections. A level playing field should be provided to all parties. But it was openly violated.” .

A dictatorial government prevented a popular CM, our star activist, a tribal son, from campaigning for elections, he said, adding that there was a delay of 1.5 to 2 hours, though it was not necessary.

“Our leader had to fly in a helicopter from Gudri and went to another place, very far from Ranchi. But he did not receive clearance from ATC. If these things happen, you can understand how frustrated and dejected they are. They have stooped to a at a level where our helicopter is not allowed to fly, we cannot campaign for elections, we are delayed and there are obstacles in our demonstrations,” JMM leader Sadi.

These things are being done at the behest of the BJP government (at the Centre), he added.

“It is highly objectionable. The President is the guardian of our democratic rights and we have written to her asking her to intervene and monitor the matter. Because we do not trust the Election Commission,” Pandey said.