Kolkata, January 21: Days after being denied to land BJP president Amit Shah’s chopper in Malda, West Bengal government finally allowed the permission on Monday, but with a condition. Now, the BJP chief’s chopper will not land in Malda airport on January 22, but at the ground opposite to Hotel Golden Park in where the helicopter of CM Mamata Banerjee lands too.

The politics over the landing of the helicopter gained momentum after the BJP announced that Shah would address five political rallies in West Bengal – ahead of Lok Sabha elections – starting from Malda on January 22. Following the announcement of the rallies, the state unit of the saffron party sought permission from the additional district magistrate. However, citing the construction work, the administration denied the permission. Amit Shah Discharged From AIIMS Delhi After Undergoing Treatment for Swine Flu.

The Additional DM of Malda wrote a letter to the state BJP unit on January 20 – stating the reason for denial of permission – had said, “Up-gradation work at Malda airport going on. Sand and material lying around. Airport not suitable for safe landing of the helicopter. Permission not possible.”

Questioning the denial, general secretary of Malda unit of BJP, while replying to the letter by DM had said, “Malda airport is now being used by WB government for landing their helicopter service every Wednesday. You're saying that Malda airport us not suitable for safe landing, then why you are allowing helicopter of WB government?”

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad shared a similar opinion. He said, “Tomorrow our national president Amit Shah, after having recovered, was to address a rally in Malda in WB. But permission had been refused for his helicopter to land on the ground that airport renovation work is going on and some construction material is there.”

Adding more he said, “At same helipad Mamata ji's helicopter landed few days ago. Some journalists went there, I have pictures, it is neat and clean. Helicopters are landing and can land. Based on baseless falsehood, by abuse of government power, helicopter of Amit Shah ji had been denied.”

Amit Shah is expected to address five political rallies in West Bengal. With the state government allowing Shah’s chopper to land at a ground near Golden Park Hotel in Malda, speculations are very high that the BJP president would sound the ‘poll bugle’ for Lok Sabha elections from the heated turf of West Bengal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 21, 2019 01:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).