Arvind Kejriwal Entitled To Govt House, Says AAP's Raghav Chadha Citing Election Commission Law

AAP demands government accommodation for outgoing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, citing his status as convener of a national party.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.

Source : PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called for government accommodation for outgoing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, stating that he is entitled to it as the convener of a national party. During a press conference, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha announced that the party would make a formal request to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to provide the accommodation, in the hope that the process would be completed within a day or two.

Kejriwal, who resigned as Delhi's chief minister earlier this week, planned to vacate the official residence within 15 days, according to the party.

#WATCH | AAP MP Raghav Chadha says "The law says that when a political party becomes a national party then 2 resources are given to that party. The first is an office in the national capital for work. Second, a government residence to the national convenor. This is given under… pic.twitter.com/OZVA374itW

— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2024

Raghav Chadha explained that every national party is entitled to two resources: an office and accommodation for its leader to operate from in Delhi. He underscored that AAP gained national party status following the Gujarat assembly elections in 2022, where it secured seats and a significant vote share.

Raghav Chadha Asserts AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal's 'Right'

After two years of struggle and the intervention of the court, the Union government provided AAP with an office. The party shifted its new office on the Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane in Mandi House last month.

"I urge the Centre to follow the rules without any delay and any political consideration, and provide a government accommodation to party national convener Arvind Kejriwal which is his and the Aam Aadmi Party's right," Chadha said, news agency PTI reported.

Chadha also noted that the leaders of other national parties, such as BJP’s JP Nadda, Congress's Mallikarjun Kharge, and BSP’s Mayawati, have already been granted government accommodation in Delhi.

The national secretary of AAP will be writing to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs regarding the matter, and Chadha expressed hope that no politically motivated decisions would delay the process. "This demand of government accommodation as a resource is a right of AAP as per the law. The AAP has been fighting for its right since long," he said.

He also hoped that the party would not have to go through a legal battle in order to provide the government accommodation to Kejriwal.

He added that as soon as Kejriwal's resignation is accepted, will "very soon" relinquish all of the official privileges granted to him as chief minister. He stated that he would begin relinquishing the facilities following the next chief minister's swearing. "He does not have a property or even his own house. As the convener of a national party, he is entitled to a government accommodation. The Centre should give him that," Chadha further added.