Tribal leader using chopper as a show of strength in Rajasthan

If Congressmen can fly, he too can. After his candidates were spurned by the secular party, tribal leader and independent from Dausa Kirodi Meena's flying adventure to fast-track electioneering is drawing crowd, and he is loving it.

In a charted Augusta 109 helicopter, Meena says he has covered constituencies like Pali, Jalore, Karauli-Dholpur and Banswara from where his supporters are fighting the polls.

"The use of the chopper has helped create a positive atmosphere in my favour. I had visited my constituency by road one month ago but now doing the rounds in the chopper does have its own impact," Meena said.

"It also gives a good feeling as I am campaigning very fast even in the remotest areas and have addressed more than 55 election meetings so far," he added.

However, political observers view it as a show of poll muscle by the leader to prove he is no meanly placed after his choice of candidates for seven seats was rejected by the Congress, leading to his severing of ties with the party.

Since campaigning through choppers by high-profile leaders of major political parties, including the Congress, is a common knowledge, Meena is perhaps seeking to display that he too can do it and the crowd sure is impressed by it, they said.

First Published: May 02, 2009 11:44 IST