Airbus Beluga XL makes historic stop at Kolkata airport
Kolkata: The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as it hosted the Airbus Beluga XL for the first time. The giant aircraft, the largest in the Beluga series, made a scheduled stop for crew rest and refueling during its journey from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, to its unit in Tianjin, China.
The Airbus Beluga XL landed at the Kolkata airport at 10:43 pm IST, arriving from Bahrain International Airport. The aircraft, known for its distinctive shape and immense size, is primarily used to transport oversized cargo, including large aircraft components such as wings and fuselages. The Beluga XL, an upgraded model of the Beluga ST, boasts a length of 63.1 meters and a wingspan of 60.3 meters, with a payload capacity of approximately 51 tons.
Kolkata airport has previously hosted the smaller Beluga ST, but this marks the first time the larger XL model has touched down in the city. The aircraft’s stopover in Kolkata was necessitated by crew rest requirements, flight duty time limitations (FDTL), and the need to refuel. Among airports in eastern India, Kolkata’s facility is uniquely equipped to accommodate such large aircraft, making it a strategic choice for the Beluga XL’s journey.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
