JOIN USPriyanka Gandhi vacates Lodhi Estate bungalow
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra vacated the government bungalow 35, Lodhi Estate, allotted to her in Lutyen’s Bungalow Zone in Delhi on Thursday, and shifted to temporary accommodation in Gurugram.
Priyanka was asked to vacate the bungalow on July 1 by the Modi government after it withdrew the Special Protection Group security cover last year.
On Thursday, Priyanka handed over the keys of the bungalow to officials from the Central Public Works Department of the Urban Affairs Ministry along with a full inventory of privately installed fittings and fixtures.
Priyanka, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, has taken a house in central Delhi on rent where she plans to shift after the renovations are done.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) officials accepted the keys to the bungalow after a full inspection establishing that the house was handed over in good condition, a statement by the AICC said.
It said the CPWD officials have issued her a "vacation report” for the premises.
“Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has also passed on to the CPWD and the Directorate of Estates, a full inventory of privately installed fittings, fixtures etc. She has paid all electricity, water and previous dues and is awaiting the final assessment for the license fee of the month of July from the Directorate of Estates due to her on the 31st July to close all accounts with reference to the allotment and subsequent cancellation of the lease of the government bungalow," the AICC statement said.
"She will be residing in temporary accommodation until a more permanent accommodation in Delhi rented by her is ready for use," the statement added.
The mention of privately installed fittings and fixtures in the bungalow assume significance against the backdrop of allegations against former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav when he had vacated his official accommodation in Lucknow.
BJP had alleged that Yadav had taken away all the fixtures and fittings installed by the government while vacating official residence of the chief minister after losing the 2017 assembly elections.