A routine pre-flight check turned into a life-saver for Maharashtra’s Environment Minister Pankaja Munde after her helicopter revealed a serious technical defect in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. En route to Latur for district council election fervor, the BJP leader’s Tuesday chopper trip was scrapped, averting a grave disaster.
The pilot’s vigilance ensured Munde’s safety, though it threw her itinerary into chaos. Latur meetings were postponed as she pivoted to road travel. Munde had fired up crowds in Bajajnagar on Monday, connecting with voters across key district groups to bolster BJP prospects.
Mystery shrouds the precise nature of the fault, with probes underway. The timing is eerie, just a week after Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s plane horror on January 28. His Baramati-bound flight crashed on landing, snuffing out five lives during panchayat election duties.
Pawar’s last rites on January 29 saw Baramati swell with mourners. His widow Sunetra now serves as Deputy CM, managing excise, sports, and minority affairs portfolios in a swift transition.
Undaunted by the scare, Munde presses on with her poll blitz, embodying resilience in Maharashtra’s cutthroat political arena. Yet, this back-to-back aviation close calls spotlight urgent needs for enhanced safety measures, stringently enforced maintenance, and perhaps a rethink on VIP chopper reliance during elections.