Once again a situation of tension seems to be developing between the Central Government and Congress. This time the reason is related to the eviction notice of 2 government bungalows. Congress leaders told yesterday on Wednesday that the Central Government has sent two notices to the Congress regarding vacating the bungalow, in which it has been asked to vacate its office at 24 Akbar Road and the headquarters of the Indian Youth Congress at 5 Raisina Road by Saturday (28 March).
A Congress leader says that this notice was sent by the Center on March 13. But the party is considering moving the court against these eviction notices. However, under a 2006 policy of the Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), national level political parties can be allotted land to set up their offices. If they accept this allotment, they have to vacate all the bungalows or other premises which were allotted to them earlier within 3 years from the date of taking possession of the land.
According to the Indian Express report, Congress had started construction work in 2009 on the plot allotted to the party on Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg. And this building named 'Indira Bhawan' was completed last year in 2025. This new building was made the Congress headquarters. Even after construction of the new headquarters, Congress has retained its hold on both Akbar Road (which has been its headquarters since 1978) and Raisina Road.
According to records of the 'Directorate of Estates' under MoHUA, which were obtained under the 'Right to Information' (RTI) Act - the allotment of three 'Type-VIII' bungalows (5 Raisina Road, 24 Akbar Road and 26 Akbar Road) allotted to the Congress was canceled almost 13 years ago on June 26, 2013. Then the party had vacated this bungalow located at 26 Akbar Road, where earlier the office of 'Seva Dal' used to be.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also retained its office at 11 Ashok Road for a few years, even after the allotment was canceled on August 20, 2017. BJP built its new office on DDU Marg in the year 2018 and shifted there. However, according to government sources, the party had retained this bungalow located at 11 Ashok Road till the year 2024.
Later, this bungalow was allotted to a BJP MP. L&DO's policy dated July 13, 2006, which is applicable to all national parties recognized by the Election Commission as well as state level parties which have at least 7 MPs in both Houses of Parliament, says, “If a political party is using a government bungalow or suite for its office, it shall do so immediately after construction of the building on the land allotted to it for office, or within 3 years from the date of obtaining vacant possession of the land (which is Even if it is earlier) it should be vacated.”
The party will have to pay a premium and annual ground rent for the land. This land will be given on lease and there will be no right to convert it into free-hold property. The document also states that if the allottee i.e. the recipient of the land fails to pay the premium and ground rent or any other government dues as per the terms of allotment/MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) or lease deed, then the allotment can be cancelled.”
According to government sources, the continued occupation of their bungalows by both the BJP and Congress parties was considered a clear violation of the 2006 policy. In the year 2022, the then Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that even if land has been allotted to a party, it will have to vacate its allotted bungalow. Then he had said, "This process (getting political parties to vacate the bungalows) is still going on. All political parties will be involved in it. This process is still in the pipeline."
