Congress chief D K Shivakumar’s chopper makes emergency landing

The chopper of Karnataka Congress chief, D K Shivakumar made an emergency landing at the HAL airport after a kite hit the glass of the cockpit on Tuesday afternoon.

Shivakumar is in the midst of an aggressive campaign for the Karnataka elections that will be held on May 10.

The Congress leader was on the way to Mulbagal in Kolar district to attend a public meeting. The chopper flew from the Jakkur airport in Bengaluru, but was hit by a kite, sources quoted by news agency PTI said.

In the impact of the crash, the glass broke into pieces, following which the chopper had to make an emergency landing at the HAL airport.

Along with Shivakumar and the pilot, a journalist of a Kannada news channel who was interviewing him was present. All persons aboard the chopper are safe.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar was in the Congress office where the manifesto of the party was released. Former chief minister, Siddaramaiah and national Congress chief, Mallikarjun Kharge too were present. The Congress has made several promises in the manifesto, which also includes 200 units of free power. It has also organisations such as the Popular Front of India and Bajrang Dal would be banned in the state, if it came to power.

Campaigning is at a feverish pitch in the state where there is a three way battle between the ruling BJP, Congress and Janata Dal (S).

The results of the Karnataka Assembly elections will be declared on May 13.