EC relaxes rules for using aircraft

Parties using helicopters and aircraft to ferry star campaigners now do not require to take permission three days in advance at commercial airports.

Even as campaigning for the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls ended on Monday,the Election Commission relaxed its rules giving some relief to political parties.

Parties using helicopters and aircraft to ferry star campaigners now do not require to take permission three days in advance at commercial airports. Instead,the EC has decided that Air Traffic Control at commercial airports will maintain a record of all private aircraft or helicopters landing and taking off,along with details like type of aircraft,company owning or leasing it,time of landing,time of take off,names of passengers,route plan.

The ATC shall make a copy of this information available to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state concerned within three days,after the date of landing/ take off and the CEO shall make such information available to the Expenditure Observer for making necessary verification during inspection. The ATC shall make the record available for inspection by Expenditure Observer whenever required, the EC has directed,telling the CEO that no prior permission for landing or take off of aircraft including fixed wing aircraft and helicopters at commercial airports shall be required from district-level election officers.

However,in case of airstrips and helipads not used for commercial flights,candidates or political party will have to take permission of the district election officer 24 hours prior to the landing of the aircraft. The EC has directed that the DEO shall issue permission on the same day on priority basis.

Even as the EC has relaxed the prior permission criteria,the candidates will still have to furnish details regarding hiring charges expenditure and the company owning the aircraft or helicopter within three days after landing with the returning officer.

The EC has directed political parties to furnish a consolidated statement,including number of aircraft used and sorties made during election in the state for campaign,name of the company which hired/ provided aircraft,flight period,and money paid/ payable to the company leasing/ providing aircraft,including copy of the vouchers within 75 days of completion of the Assembly polls. The new rules will also apply for the Goa Assembly elections.