Congress unlikely to get a rent relief

Congress may not get rent relief for its bungalows except for the party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road. The party occupies three bungalows and a flat in the Lutyens’ Delhi, which is the maximum by any political party. Sources said, though Congress has sought allowing it to pay concessional rent or “normal rate of licence fee” for all the government accommodations till its new office gets ready, the request may be allowed only for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters. They added when the issue was referred to be placed for consideration of the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation (CCA), the cabinet secretariat had raised questions of how the party can be allowed to pay nominal rent and keep occupying accommodations beyond permitted period. This would result in revenue loss to the government, it had flagged. The urban development ministry has taken up the issue with the law ministry before taking a final view. Subsequently, the matter will be referred to the CCA, which is the highest decision making body on allotment, extension and rent relief for government accommodations in the national capital. The party also occupies bungalows on 5, Raisina Road; 26, Akbar Road; and a flat C-II/109, Chanakyapuri. The Raisina Road bungalow is used by the Indian Youth Congress while 26, Akbar Road and the Chanakyapuri quarter are used for party work.