First-time MPs make a beeline for accommodation in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Subhash Sarkar, a firsttime MP from West Bengal, recently wrote to the house committee of the Lok Sabha, seeking an accommodation near the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in the Capital.
Sarkar is a gynaecologist and says a lot of poor patients would come to see him from his constituency, Bankura. “I need to help people from my constituency,” Sarkar, who is currently staying in Bangla Bhavan, told ET. “I have requested for 17 North Avenue as my accommodation.”

On June 26, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla formed the new house committee with BJP MP from Navsari, CR Patil, as its chairman. Since then, MPs from all parties, especially firsttime members, are making a beeline to Patil’s third-floor office in Parliament, with requests for allotment of accommodation. The 17th Lok Sabha has 267 first-time MPs.

Currently, the MPs have been provided transit accommodation in Western Court and several state bhavans.

This has been done to reduce the cost of accommodation for MPs.

Previously, they used to stay in five-star hotels till they were allotted a house. In 2014, 32 new MPs stayed in The Ashok hotel for more than a year, and finally the Lok Sabha secretary had to stop payment for their expenses.

A new annexe building has been constructed in Western Court and it was inaugurated by PM Modi in April 2018. Currently, there are 88 new MPs staying in the annexe.

Another 20 are accommodated in the old Western Court building.

“I am staying in one room in Western Court. People from my constituency come to Delhi every day for treatment and other things,” said Afzal Ansari, the BSP MP from Ghazipur. “I have requested that whichever category I fall in, the accommodation be provided as early as possible.” There are four categories of accommodations.

First-term MPs usually get Type-V accommodations. Under the new criteria, they can also get Type-VI accommodation, provided they fulfil certain criteria like being an MLA or a minister in the state government or so. “Being a first-term MP, I will get Type-V accommodation,” said BJP MP from Mangladoi, Assam, Dilip Saikia.

“I have requested to allocate 147 South Avenue.” The LJP MP from Nawada, Chandan Kumar, is currently staying in the house allotted to his sister-in-law, Veena Devi, who was an MP from Munger in the last Lok Sabha. Kumar requested that the residence of Veena Devi be allotted to him as a transit accommodation and later he would move to the house allotted to him. His request has been turned down and Veena Devi has been asked to vacate the house.