New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s hunt for a new official accommodation has ended at bungalow number 95, Lodhi Estate, said party and official sources on Tuesday.
After an inspection of the bungalow on Monday, Kejriwal is likely to settle for the Type 7 bungalow that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs allotted him under the quota for national presidents of recognised political parties.
Kejriwal was earlier eyeing an adjacent bungalow that was earlier occupied by Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati. However, during a hearing of an AAP petition in the Delhi High Court seeking an official house for Kejriwal, the Centre told the court that the Type 7 bungalow at 35, Lodhi Estate, earlier used by Mayawati, was currently allotted to Union Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.
The AAP had been demanding a government residence for Kejriwal in the national capital, given the fact that he is the president of a recognised national party.
In its petition, it cited the guidelines for allotment of accommodation, which state that the president of a recognised national party is entitled to a government residence in Delhi if he or she neither owns a house nor has one allotted in any other official capacity.
On September 25, the Centre informed the court about its plan to allot an ‘appropriate’ bungalow to Kejriwal in the next 10 days.
The submission was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before Justice Sachin Datta, who said that an order will be passed after taking his statement on record.
Rahul Mehra, the lawyer representing the AAP, demanded allotment of a Type 8 or Type 7 bungalow for Kejriwal, a claim contested by the Solicitor General, who stated that common people do not fight for a Type 8 bungalow.
He, however, assured the court that Kejriwal would be allotted an ‘appropriate’ government bungalow in Delhi within the next 10 days as per the rules.
After Kejriwal was informed about the allotment of bungalow number 95, Lodhi Estate, on Monday by officials, he inspected and approved the four-bedroom accommodation, which also includes space for office, a lawn, a garage and three servant quarters, said a party leader.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will be Kejriwal’s neighbour as he occupies bungalow number 97.
Currently, Kejriwal has been living in an MP bungalow at 5, Ferozeshah Road, allotted to party Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal.
He vacated his official accommodation allotted to him as Delhi Chief Minister in north Delhi in November 2024, after the AAP lost the Assembly election in February.
IANS
Heavy rain lashes Delhi-NCR, IMD issues yellow and orange alerts, flight operations hit
New Delhi: The weather in the national capital took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as heavy rain and gusty winds lashed several parts of Delhi and its adjoining regions. Though...
ED seizes assets worth Rs 7.44 crore linked to Satyendar Jain, to file a complaint under PMLA soon
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 7.44 crore belonging to companies beneficially owned and controlled by former Delhi minister Satyendar Kumar Jain. The...
Multiple Delhi schools receive bomb threat, students evacuated
New Delhi: Several schools in Delhi received bomb threats on Saturday, forcing authorities to evacuate students and staff as precautionary measures. Officials confirmed that Delhi Public School, Dwarka, Krishna Model...
ABVP, NSUI accuse each other of rigging in DUSU elections, both claim victory
New Delhi: Voting for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections was underway on Thursday, but the polling process has been marred by allegations of violence and rigging. Both students’...
Milk gets cheaper by Rs 2/litre as Mother Dairy cuts prices after GST reforms
New Delhi: In good news for consumers, milk has become cheaper by Rs 2/litre as Mother Dairy announced slashing of prices. This comes close on the heels of next-generation reforms...
Golden Kalash worth Rs 1 Cr stolen from Red Fort during Jain religious event; suspect identified
New Delhi: In a major security breach at Delhi’s historic Red Fort complex, a golden, jewel-encrusted ceremonial Kalash (sacred vessel) worth nearly Rs 1 crore was stolen during a Jain...
Delhi-NCR braces for wet week, IMD warns of heavy rains; rivers swell
New Delhi: The national Capital and its adjoining regions are bracing for another spell of heavy rains. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continuous showers across Delhi-NCR between September...
20 Delhi colleges receive bomb threats, search Ops underway
New Delhi: A fresh wave of bomb threat emails has hit the national capital, with around 20 colleges, including Jesus and Mary College in Chanakyapuri, receiving threatening messages, according to...
2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits 6 accused in mosque looting case, slams police probe
New Delhi: A Delhi court has acquitted six individuals accused in a case of looting and arson near a mosque in Sudamapuri during the 2020 Delhi riots, raising serious questions...
DU’s Rs 1 lakh bond requirement for DUSU polls sparks protests from student organisations
New Delhi: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, on Tuesday staged a protest at Delhi University’s Arts Faculty against the administration’s decision to mandate...
Satish Golcha, known for 1984 riots case probe, named new Delhi Police chief
New Delhi: Satish Golcha, an IPS officer of the 1992 batch, was on Thursday named the new Delhi Police Commissioner, an announcement that comes a day after a security breach...
CCTV footage shows attacker surveyed Delhi CM’s Shalimar Bagh residence, probe reveals criminal past
New Delhi: In a major twist to the case involving the attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, a CCTV footage dated August 19 has surfaced showing the accused, Rajesh...
