Ex CMs bungalow: Akhilesh seeks more time; Mayawati says her govt bungalow is Kashiram rest house

Lucknow: With Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has made a U-turn over vacating her government bungalow as instructed by the Supreme Court, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has sought more time to vacate his 4, Vikramaditya Marg Bungalow. The Supreme Court has ordered vacating of all the bungalows given to the leaders who were former chief ministers of the state and the state estate department had issued notices to six ex-CMs on Thursday to vacate their bungalows in next 15 days.

Official sources here on Monday said the private secretary of Mr Akhilesh Yadav has handed over a letter to the state estate department seeking more time to vacate his bungalow after a notice was served to him to vacate it within 15 days. However, Mayawati has made a political move on Monday when she announced that her bungalow, 13-A, Mall Avenue is a Kashiram Vishramalaya Sthal(Rest house).

A board was put on at gate of Mayawati's government bungalow on Monday morning saying that it is a Kashiram Vishramalaya Sthal. Even though there is a report that Ms Mayawati to be shifted to her private bungalow 9, Mall Avenue very soon but the move is a said to be an effort to retain the government bungalow on the name of Kashiram rest house. Sources here on Monday said renovation work including repair and painting works has commenced at 9, Mall Avenue of Mayawati and soon she would be shifting there.

She had ordered her staff on Saturday to start shifting to a Rs 15-crore bungalow she had purchased in 2010. The 9, Mall Avenue property is at a stone’s throw from Mayawati’s present 13-A Mall Avenue government residence, which she has been occupying in the capacity of former UP CM. The BSP office, too, is situated nearby. Carved in red sand stones -- similar to the one used in Dalit memorials and parks constructed during BSP regime – the massive bungalow, spread over an area of more than 71,000 sq feet was purchased by Mayawati barely three years after she stormed to power with full majority in UP in 2007.

On the other hand, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, too, started searching for a bungalow after being served with a notice to vacate his government residence at 5-Vikramaditya Marg. A senior SP MP, is reported to have selected a bungalow in Srijan Vihar colony in the posh Gomti Nagar area which is expected to cost around Rs 15 crore. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, too, has started vacating his 4, Kalidas Marg government residence and is scheduled to shift to his private residence situated in Gomti Nagar. Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh has also announced that he will soon vacate his bungalow 2,Mall Avenue. But there is no news about the bungalow allotted to former CM Narain Dutt Tiwari, though the notice of eviction has been sent to his Delhi residence. UNI