JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hired three helicopters to enable their candidates to reach people living in the hinterlands of Jammu and Kashmir. With only 10-days left in campaigning for the first phase of Assembly elections, the latest strategy aims to take their message to people of remote areas, easily, and quickly. BJP candidates, including Sunil Sharma from Padar-Nagsena, Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar, Dilip Parihar from Bhaderwah, Gajay Singh Rana from Doda, Shakti Parihar from Doda West, Rakesh Thakur from Ramban, and Salim Butt from Banihal, are utilizing helicopters to conduct up to 10 rallies a day. Sunil Sharma has already made multiple appearances in villages located in upper regions such as Atholi, Padar, Soundar, and Dachchan, delivering speeches and rallying support. Other BJP candidates are also actively using the helicopter service to visit far-flung areas. BJP’s campaign is not limited to just these districts. After the conclusion of the first phase, as per the party sources, helicopters will be redeployed to other districts, including Udhampur and Kathua, ensuring that no area is left untouched. While BJP’s high-tech campaign is in full swing, other political parties, including the Congress, are focusing on traditional methods of campaigning. Ravinder Sharma, a senior Congress leader and party spokesperson, said that Congress candidates are making every effort to reach out to the public, mostly on foot or by road, but added that the party has not ruled out using helicopters if necessary
