Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to delay his return to Delhi on Friday afternoon after his aircraft encountered a technical snag. As a result, the plane remained grounded at Deoghar airport for an extended period. PM Modi had just concluded two rallies in poll-bound Jharkhand as part of his political campaign before a scheduled event in Delhi. Despite the unforeseen delay, the Prime Minister’s visit to Jharkhand had included addressing crucial rallies and attending significant events as part of the ongoing election preparations in the state.

In a separate incident, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also faced travel disruptions in Jharkhand on the same day. His chopper was initially flagged for Air Traffic Control (ATC) non-clearance, preventing him from departing the region. After a delay of approximately 45 minutes, the aircraft was cleared for travel. However, Congress leaders quickly criticized the delay, suggesting that it was a deliberate attempt to disrupt his campaign schedule.

“Just because the PM is in Deoghar, Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to cross that area. There is the protocol we understand, but Congress ruled the country for 70 years, and such an incident never happened with any opposition leader. This is not acceptable,” said Dipika Pandey Singh, MLA and Congress candidate from Mahagama seat.

The events unfolded shortly after Prime Minister Modi concluded a visit to Jamui in Bihar, where he commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Birsa Munda. During the visit, PM Modi launched tribal welfare initiatives worth over ₹6,000 crore, aimed at improving infrastructure, education, and health facilities in tribal areas across India. The projects were part of the government’s ongoing efforts to uplift tribal communities and create employment opportunities for the youth.