VK Malhotra overstays, Harsh Vardhan waits for his official residence

NEW DELHI: Barely has chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's hunt for a house ended that another episode of kahaani ghar ghar ki has begun unfolding in Delhi. The leader of the opposition in Delhi, BJP's Harsh Vardhan, has written to the government, asking for allotment of his official accommodation on 6, Bishamber Dass Road. The problem is that the house continues to be occupied by his party colleague, VK Malhotra, who was leader of the opposition in the last government.

While Harsh Vardhan's letter says the allotment should happen "with immediate effect", Delhi government officials plead that other than writing letters, there is little they can do right now to get the house vacated. In fact, other than Ramakant Goswami, there are three former Congress ministers who have not vacated their official residences till now though according to rules they are supposed to do so within a month of the new government coming to power.

"We have already written to all the ministers to vacate their houses but so far none, except former law minister Ramakant Goswami, have done that. The government will send another notice to the ministers in the next few days," said Manish Sisodia, urban development minister.

The house on Bishamber Dass Road is a Type VI independent house. Sources said it was an old Lutyen's construction with sprawling lawns both in front of the house and behind, servants' quarters and garages. The house has three bedrooms and occupies over 3,500 sq ft. Kejriwal also occupies a type VI house though it is a C-II type flat and has a slightly smaller area.

Harsh Vardhan, who stays in Krishna Nagar at present, said that he had been shown 2-3 options but chose the BD Road house because it would be close to the party office. " Malhotraji is getting some work done in his house in GK and I don't mind waiting till he vacates this house," he said.

Sources said Delhi government needed the houses back immediately since some renovation was needed to be carried out in the lieutenant-governor's secretariat and PWD was considering temporarily shifting the LG's office to two of its houses in the vicinity. "It has not been finalized yet but most probably that is where the LG's secretariat will be moved for the duration of the renovation. With this in mind, the houses need to be vacated immediately so that they can be spruced up for the LG's use," said sources.

Despite repeated attempts, Malhotra could not be contacted for comments.