NEW DELHI: Two major national political parties have continued to occupy government bungalows in Lutyens’ Delhi for their party offices, even years after building their own headquarters or getting land for the purpose, flouting norms.
Although the policy specifies that three years after obtaining office land or completing construction, political parties must vacate the bungalows, the BJP and Congress occupy two bungalows each.
Sources said it was in 2018 that the property directorate under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs sent notices to Congress to vacate four government accommodations it had occupied. So far, the party has vacated two of those accommodations.
“The rule applies to all political parties. Now, BJP occupies two government bungalows on Ashoka Road and Pandit Pant Marg, and Congress has two bungalows under its occupation on Akbar Road and Raisina Road. There is no indication when these parties will vacate the bungalows. Currently there are around half a dozen bungalows occupied by political parties,” said a source.
According to the policy of allotment of land to national political parties, 2012, parties occupying bungalows or suites in Vithalbhai Patel House for their offices must vacate them immediately when an office building is constructed on the allotted land. to them or within three years following the taking possession of the vacant land.
The land and development office (L&DO), under the housing ministry, had allotted two plots of land on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg to the BJP and the party inaugurated its office in February 2018. Almost five years later, the BJP continues to occupy bungalows in the 11 Ashoka Road. and 14, Pandit Pant Marg.
In the case of Congress, though the government had allotted it land on Kotla Road adjacent to DDU Marg in 2010, it recently completed construction of its office after getting several extensions. The new party headquarters will be inaugurated on January 15. Sources said the Congress is unlikely to vacate the two bungalows, which house its national and youth offices, considering the BJP has not done so either.
In June 2022, responding to questions on forcing parties to vacate bungalows, then Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters: “(Political party evictions) are in process. It will involve all political parties. It is in process.”
Officials said sending any fresh notice to political parties to vacate bungalows even after constructing a new office is a “sensitive” issue.