Daijiworld Media Network – Dharwad (RJP)

Dharwad, Apr 17: Based on the direction from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the district election officer (DEO), Dharwad, on Tuesday denied permission for the helicopter of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

The BJP's local unit had filed an application, seeking the DEO's permission for the Yogi's helicopter to land in Dharwad on Wednesday, April 17, where he was scheduled to address a public gathering.

When the DEO was examining the application, the ECI on Tuesday sent a directive that Yogi Adityanath was barred by it from campaigning for 72 hours starting from Tuesday morning over his alleged objectionable speech in Meerut.

Yogi Adityanath was to address public meetings in favour of BJP candidates Shivakumar Udasi of Haveri constituency and Prahlad Joshi of Dharwad constituency in Gadag and Dharwad on Wednesday.

"His scheduled programme fell under the 72-hour period during which he had been banned from campaigning and hence the DEO denied permission for his helicopter to land in Dharwad," said DEO and DC Deepa Cholan.