Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was contesting from two constituencies in Kathmandu and Siraha in the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election four years ago. But he spent most of his time campaigning across the country flying in helicopters than in his constituencies.
The then president of Nepali Congress (NC) Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, on the other hand, had dropped anchor at their respective constituencies.
The situation is exactly opposite now. Maoist Chairman Dahal, who is contesting from Chitwan-3, is focused on Chitwan even as UML Chairman KP Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, seemingly assured of their victories, are flying in choppers to campaign across the country.
Oli has addressed up to seven election rallies in a single day. Oli addressed rallies in Chormara of Nawalparasi, Sunwal and Butwal of Rupandehi, Amarawati of Kapilvastu, and Ghorahi and Tulsipur of Dang on November 22, according to his press coordinator Chetan Adhikari. He had used a chopper to travel 24 kilometers from Ghorahi to Tulsipur of Dang due to the strike of Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand.
He stayed in Ghorahi that night and reached Surkhet for lunch the next day. He then addressed rallies in Narayan municipality and Dullu of Dailekh before reaching Achham. He then addressed a rally in Dadeldhura. He was scheduled to go to Baitadi that day but stayed at Dadeldhura after some technical problems in the chopper.
He reached Kanchanpur some time after landing at Dhangadi the next day and then addressed a rally in Lamki, Kailali before flying to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj.
Oli then reached Pokhara on November 9 to address rally there. He returned to Kathmandu in the evening after addressing rallies in Damauli and Khaireni of Tanahu. He addressed two programs in Bhairahawa on November 27 and reached UML Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam's constituency in Bardiya.
Dahal had also accompanied Oli, albeit in a separate chopper, in a few constituencies until a few days back and addressed joint rallies at Bharahawa, Syangja, Gorkha, Parbat, Baglung and Jhapa. He returned back to Kathmandu after death of his only son on November 19. He stopped election rallies for two days and is now stationed in Chitwan. He is scheduled to remain in Chitwan until December 1 before going to Jhapa on December 2.
Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa has accompanied Oli in the chopper during this period.
Press coordinator Adhikari claimed that Oli is using choppers with permission of the Election Commission (EC) and added that the party will pay the fare.
Prime Minister and NC President Deuba is also busy elsewhere than his constituency in Dadeldhura. He is scheduled to address six rallies on Tuesday using choppers. He has reached Bhairahawa after completion of the condolence meeting in Mirlung of Tanahu on Tuesday, according to Senior Media Expert to PM Govinda Pariyar. He will reach Taulihawa after addressing the rally in Bhairahawa and is also scheduled to address rallies at Lamahi, Ghorahi and Tulsipur on Tuesday.
Deuba had earlier reached Taplejung in a chopper on November 11. He had also addressed a rally in Panchthar on the same day. He has also reached Lukla, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Baitadi, Bajura, Kalikot, Rukum, Rolpa, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Tehrathum, Jhapa and Sunsari using choppers.
He is scheduled to fly to Syangja and Pokhara on Wednesday.
"The EC has given permission for use of choppers by three leaders of each party. PM Deuba has used choppers with permission of the EC," Pariyar stated. "NC will pay the fare of choppers," he added.
The EC has said choppers can be used taking permission and remaining within the ceiling for expenses. The EC allows each party to use up to three choppers for campaigning.
