Maya converts govt bungalow into memorial

Facing eviction from their government allotted bungalows following the Supreme Court order, some of the former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh have resorted to desperate tactics to prevent their takeover by the state government.

BSP supremo Mayawati, in an apparent bid to bypass the apex court order, has converted her 13-A, Mall Avenue official residence into a memorial after party founder Kanshi Ram.

A board displaying 'Kanshiram Memorial Vishram Sthal' came up on the walls near the front entrance of the sprawling bungalow on Monday.

The BSP supremo is planning to shift to her personal bungalow at 9, Mall Avenue, after the verdict. The new bungalow is being renovated and she is expected to shift there in the next few days.

Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has sought two years' time to vacate the bungalow saying that he did not have any house in the state capital, where he could shift.

Mulayam Singh Yadav had recently met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and suggested that new bungalows might be allotted to two senior SP leaders, both leaders of Opposition in the Assembly and Legislative Council, so that the SP supremo could continue living there.

Former chief ministers Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh, the governor of Rajasthan, have decided to shift to their private houses in the state capital.

The Supreme Court had recently quashed a law enacted by the Uttar Pradesh government allowing the ex-chief ministers to live in the government bungalows.