Ex-ministers ordered to vacate official bungalows
Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, his ex-deputy Ajit Pawar and other members of the previous Congress-NCP government have been ordered to vacate their official residences on Wednesday, when many in the city will be celebrating Diwali.
Maharashtra has been under president’s rule since September 28 after the NCP withdrew its support to the Congress, reducing the latter to a minority in the assembly.
Chavan and other former ministers had sought more time to vacate government-allotted bungalows, but Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao did not respond to their applications, paving way for the state administration to repossess the homes.
Most of the bungalows are located on Malabar Hill and in other areas of south Mumbai.
Maharashtra has been under president’s rule since September 28 after the NCP withdrew its support to the Congress, reducing the latter to a minority in the assembly.
Chavan and other former ministers had sought more time to vacate government-allotted bungalows, but Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao did not respond to their applications, paving way for the state administration to repossess the homes.
“How can they expect former ministers to leave the houses on the eve of Diwali. This is not done. If they want, we will pay them rent, but they must give us an extension. I will not leave my house,” said former PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
Most of the bungalows are located on Malabar Hill and in other areas of south Mumbai.
