AI forces Odisha MP to fly economy

after it lifted a ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, Air India denied a business class ticket to Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Arjun Charan Sethi.

Sethi, an MP from Bhadrak in Odisha, said he will complain to the aviation minister as the airline did not inform him about the change of aircraft.

Sethi unlike Gaikwad restrained himself and later boarded the same flight and travelled in the economy class without creating any ruckus. He, however, got annoyed at Air India staff at the check-in counter when he learnt about the nonavailability of business class seat.

“When I reached the counter, I was told that I cannot travel business class as the aircraft has only economy class seats. I got angry but had to travel owing to family emergency. I will complain to the minister as the airline did not inform in advance,” said Sethi.

The incident took place on April 12 and the MP reached the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5:45 pm. He was scheduled to fly with AI 473, Delhi-Bhubaneswar flight.

Air India confirmed the incident and said that several attempts were made to reach out to the MP. “Whenever we change the aircraft, we inform the passenger through call, message and email. In this case, the number given by the passenger was not reachable and messages also could not be delivered. There was no email id give at the time of booking . There was no unruly behaviour,” said Dhananjay Kumar, Air India spokesperson.

Air India sources said that there was argument over the seat but the MP later agreed to fly. Sethi had booked the ticket around five days before the date of travel. Air India official said that Delhi is a hub and aircraft are changed often depending on the availability.

On Monday, Air India had proposed a fine of up to ₹15 lakh for passengers involved in air rage and delaying flights beyond two hours.

The CPI(M)’s West Bengal unit wants to send party general secretary Sitaram Yechury once again to Rajya Sabhs after his second term ends in August.

The CPI(M), which doesn’t have enough strength to ensure its candidate’s victory in the biennial polls, is also looking at a possible pact with the Congress for this purpose.

The all-powerful Central Committee, however, has so far not given its nod to the proposal.

Six seats will fall vacant in August from West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is set to sweep five seats and unless the Congress and the CPI(M) tied up, the sixth seat may also go in Banerjee’s kitty.

Yechury will complete his second term—and the CPI(M) doesn’t usually give nomination to its MPs for more than two terms.

“This is an exceptional situation,” said a senior politburo member from West Bengal, “Yechury is the most effective speaker to represent West Bengal in the state. He should stay there (in Rajya Sabha).”

Yechury was also the first general secretary to represent the party in Parliament. after being elected as the party chief, Yechury wanted to give up his parliamentary position, but the Bengal lobby resisted as they would have lost the seat to Trinamool in a by-poll.

The state lobby also wants a pact with the Congress as seven civic body polls are coming up next month followed by panchayet elections.