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Bans private jets and 5-star stays
Whether it\'s air travel or hotel stays, BJP president Amit Shah has asked party leaders to follow austerity measures as propounded by PM Narendra Modi.
New Delhi: Whether it's air travel or hotel stays, BJP president Amit Shah has asked party leaders to follow austerity measures as propounded by PM Narendra Modi.
So, the party leaders - including party patriarch LK Advani - have been asked not to travel by chartered flights, but by regular commercial flights.
Only in case of an emergency can an exception be made - and it will be even better if they travel by train.
Additionally, leaders have been asked not to stay at five-star hotels.
Shah's directive on Sunday aims to keep the party leaders connected to grassroots.
According to observers, the move is significant in the context of upcoming Assembly elections in several states.
The BJP wants to strengthen its support base across the nation and party leaders must do everything to reach out to the common people.
"Shah himself prefers regular flights most of the times. He wants others in the party to follow this. It will curtail the expenditure, and send a message among the party workers and general public," a party leader said. Moreover, he has asked party leaders not to opt for five-star hotels during visits outside their home towns.
He has advised the leaders to prefer state guest houses instead, sources added.
Just few days ago party veteran Advani's office had called up the BJP headquarters to seek a chartered aircraft - a usual practice for many years.
However, the BJP office politely informed Advani's office that hiring of chartered aircraft had been stopped except for emergencies. Advani reportedly called up Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, considered close to both Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Shah.
Jaitley, it is learnt, spoke with Shah. But the BJP president reportedly made it clear that party leaders had been advised to use regular flights.
Shah said even he would travel by regular flights.
Advani then refused to accept an air ticket provided by the party.
Meanwhile, party leaders have praised the move. They say the move follows similar austerity measures ushered in by Modi in the government.
