Chennai: After the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced yesterday and the model code of conduct thus coming into effect, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chose to travel in a commercial flight to New Delhi instead of taking a special IAF plane.
Sitharaman was in the city to take part in a function. According to reports, she came in a BJP leader’s car instead of a government vehicle and also avoided escort vehicles.
The Minister was supposed to take a special aircraft but just before her her departure, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the seven-phase polls, which will commence on 11 April. This imposed the Model Code of Conduct, so Sitharaman took a private carrier flight to Delhi.
Once the the code of conduct is imposed the government is barred from announcing any policy move that may influence people’s decision and also ministers are restrained from making use of official machinery or personnel.