14 November,2010 08:03 AM IST | | Amit Kumar
Newly-minted CM Prithviraj Chavan will miss his erstwhile neighbourhood where he feasted on sandwiches and played sports
Just sworn in Maharashtra CM, Prithviraj Chavan, considered close to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, will miss his neighbourhood. Chavan's official bungalow, 11, Race Course Road (RCR), in Delhi shares the boundary with the Prime Minister's house on 7 RCR. The entry gate of the PM's house is hardly 40 metres away from Chavan's house.
Prithviraj Chavan's Delhi residence was surrounded on three sides by
the PM's home. Pic/Rajeev Tyagi
One of the longest serving ministers at the Prime Minister's Office, 64 year-old Chavan was considered one of the privileged parliamentarians for having been allotted the 10-room bungalow on 11 RCR. The area is under protection of Special Protection Group (SPG) and falls under the no flying zone, said a police official, who is also resident of the nearby Ashok Hotel police complex.
Veteran Congress leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Dr Balram Jakhar previously occupied Chavan's bungalow. It was Jakhar, who beautified the lawn of the bungalow, said a CPWD employee, deputed in the area.
Chavan was reluctant to shift to Mumbai, said a Congress office bearer at the party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road.
Tennis and subs at Khan market
Chavan will also miss Subway sandwiches at Delhi's Khan market. "He loves to eat the sandwiches at Subway in Khan Market," said Deepak Tanvar, a Congressman. Chavan was particular about fitness too and enjoyed tennis or badminton. Ram Jethmalani and Chavan often played badminton together, said a family friend.
No favours for Chavan
"Till Chavan was a Rajya Sabha MP, he used to board late night flights from Delhi to Mumbai on his way to his native village Karad in Satara district to save air fare, as late night flights were much cheaper. From Mumbai to Pune, he used to travel by an early morning train and from Pune to Satara by bus to reach Karad," said Ashok Wankhere, a Delhi-based senior journalist, who knew Chavan closely.
Chavan also refused to allow his wife to use their official vehicle to go to Shiv Niketan School, where she was a primary school teacher. The school's alumni include Rajiv Gandhi. "She travelled to school by autorickshaw," confirmed police officials posted in the area. "He never recommended Haryana Bhawan for the accommodation of any of his guest," said Sanjeev Singh, a former member of Youth Congress of the time when Chavan was Congress in-charge of Haryana.
