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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched...

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched from around the sprawling parking lot, the helicopter appeared to drop speed in its flight, flew over some overhead high-tension electric cables, and descended gingerly into the parking lot - raising a thick dust-storm in which it disappeared for seconds - before touching the ground.   Moments later, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Bhujbal and others stepped out of the chopper, looked around in the unfamiliar territory before several vehicles and police teams rushed there. Minutes before there was chaos and confusion with some locals shouting warnings at the ‘wrong landing’.   Eyewitnesses said that the chopper’s powerful rotors created a thick dust storm and sparked alarm among the people in the vicinity, and many scrambled to the spot to check what exactly was going on in the parking lot.   Later, the Pune Police said that a designated helipad was available for the chopper landing but were at a loss to explain how the pilot missed it and veered off quite a distance away in the vehicle parking space. Subsequently, they asked the pilot to fly it to the correct landing spot.   Shaken and angry local NCP leaders questioned how a pilot flying a VIP on an official trip could mistake a parking lot for a helipad when the weather and visibility was clear. They demanded to know whether the helipad was improperly marked or it was a question of communication or sheer negligence.   The Pune Police indicated that they would report the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which may take action against the errant pilot and the helicopter company.   “There was no accident. We all emerged safely. The helicopter pilot landed wrongly in a parking lot because the helipad was not visible. All of us are fine and there is nothing to worry,” said Bhujbal, before he was whisked off by his security team.   “There are many faults in numerous airplanes and helicopters, including maintenance issues and other problems. That's why I keep saying consistently that VIPs must exercise caution while flying. Fortunately, an accident was averted today, but that doesn't mean the authorities should be negligent. We expect the government to take urgent precautions.” Rohit R. Pawar, MLA, NCP (SP)

Sena blames Ajit for Shinde’s missed opportunity

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Ramdas Kadam

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena workers feel Ajit Pawar is the reason for Eknath Shinde not getting the Chief Minister’s post. Many Shiv Sena workers strongly feel that Pawar is the person who played dirty.


As Shinde is almost out of the race for the Chief Minister’s post, Shiv Sena leaders started expressing their displeasure over the whole episode of new government formation.


Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam lashed out at Ajit Pawar and the NCP, stating that it was Pawar’s interference that cost Shiv Sena the top post. “Earlier, when Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti in 2023, it cost our people ministerial posts because those posts were occupied by his partymen. This time around again he played the mischief which is all set to cost us the top post,” he told The Perfect Voice.


“Shiv Sena workers wanted Shinde to retain the Chief Minister’s post. Ajit Pawar surrendered and supported Devendra Fadnavis for the post of Chief Minister. This affected our bargaining power. Now it will be difficult for Eknath Shinde to get the post of Chief Minister due to Ajit Pawar’s smart act. However, the grand alliance will remain intact as it is even in future,” he said.


“The election was contested under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah believed in Eknath Shinde who fought the battle and achieved great success. Now it is up to them to take calls on such crucial matter,” Kadam pointed out.

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