Deputy Leader of the Opposition yet to get an official accommodation
Deputy Leader of the Opposition yet to get an official accommodation |
| Former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Gopinath Munde |
He has been a trouble-shooter for his party, one of the most senior from Maharashtra and second only to the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj in Parliament, yet Gopinath Munde is still looking for an official accommodation.
The BJP veteranu00a0 has been putting up at a room in the Maharashtra Sadan for more than a year now.
"I have been offered a type V bungalow at 14 Janpath, which is smaller than my entitlement. I have repeatedly asked for a change of the type of house allotted to me, but haven't succeeded yet," Munde told MiD DAY.
However, housing committee chairman JP Agarwal said Munde had been offered a type VI bunglow, as per his entitlement. "The Urban Development ministry had offered him a bungalow as per his entitlement," said Agarwal.
"I had all the respect for him. But, if I exempt one man, it will be partisanship. It is certain that he has been offered an accommodation as per rule," Agarwal told MiD DAY. "Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy had also offered him the house that was vacated after the death of SP MP Janeshwar Mishra, but Munde rejected that offer too."
Munde alleged that many first time MPs had been allotted bigger bungalows but his case has not been considered. "I do not have any preference. I just want an accommodation as per my entitlement. But it seems that I have to put myself in Maharashtra Sadan for the full term," Munde said.u00a0u00a0u00a0
A senior Lok Sabha Housing Committee official, said: "The allotment has been made to all MPs as per the criteria. But, many refuse to accept the allotted house as they want bigger ones."
Kahani ghar, ghar kiJaganmohan Reddy, son of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy, a first-time Member of Parliament has been allotted a huge bungalow in the posh Lutyens Zone. The directorate of estates under urban development ministry has allotted him a Type VII bungalow - 26, Lodhi Estate.
Generally, Type VI and VII bungalows are allotted to ministers of state or senior parliamentarians. First-time MPs are entitled to apartments in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel House, North Avenue, South Avenue and in multi-storey flats at Baba Kharag Singh Marg.u00a0
