Former ministers of Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra told to vacate official residences tomorrow

Ministers in erstwhile Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra, which is currently under President's rule, have been asked to vacate their official bungalows by tomorrow. Additional Chief Secretary Sumit Mallick, who is also the Chief Protocol Officer, has written a letter to former ministers, saying that since President's rule was in place in the state since September 28, they can occupy their official residences for a period of 15 days.

"Former ministers could keep their official residences without rent for 15 days. Accordingly, the residences had to be vacated by October 13. But, given the polling on October 15 and counting of votes on October 19, the time frame for vacating the premises is October 22. Hence, former ministers are requested to vacated their official residences completely by October 22," the letter read.

Soon after imposition of President's rule, ministers had to vacate their offices in Mantralaya - state secretariat - as well.

Confirming receipt of the letter, a former minister said, "I received the letter today. I was planning to vacate the house after Diwali. But, now I will have to do it tomorrow itself."

In recently-held assembly elections, Congress and NCP suffered severe drubbing at the hands of BJP which won 123 seats followed by Shiv Sena which secured 63 seats whereas the tally of Congress and NCP stood at 42 and 41 seats, respectively.