Chennai: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman avoided taking a special aircraft and chose a commercial flight to New Delhi from here Sunday as the model code of conduct came into effect with the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedule.
Sitharaman, who earlier in the day participated in a function here, also avoided government car and escort vehicles and arrived at the airport in the car of a BJP leader, the party said.
The Minister was scheduled to board a special aircraft but shortly before her departure time, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the seven-phase polls commencing on April 11 and imposed the Model Code of Conduct.
Sitharaman took a private carrier’s 8.40 pm flight to the national capital, the BJP said in a release.
Airport sources said she had also told officials not to come to the terminal to see her off.
Among other things, the code of conduct bars the government from announcing any policy move that may impact voters’ decision and restrains ministers from making use of official machinery or personnel.
Better sense prevailed or election gimmick ? Madam is influenced by modi actions. BUT SHE SHOULD NOT FORGET, THAT SHE IS GENUINE MPHIL DEGREE HOLDER, UNLIKE HER PM MODI JI
Shri Pranab Mukherjee once said that for a long time in his ministerial career, he hardly ever used a special flight. In those days, there was just Indian Airlines, far fewer flights, ministers had to modify their schedules to match the timetable. Raksha Mantri is entitled to use an IAF jet, no question, but if the journey is from Delhi to Chennai or Calcutta, there are a score of commercial flights to choose from. An aircraft burns a lot of ATF to cover this distance, wonderful if savings can be effected.