Old MPs stay put, new MPs' accommodations costs exchequer over Rs 1 crore

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has had to cough out over Rs 1 crore from the state exchequer to pay for members of Parliament's (MPs) accommodation since majority of former MPs have not yet vacated their official bungalows. As a result, 180 MPs had to be accommodated at the Ashoka, a luxury five star hotel in the capital for the four-day Parliament session. The others found accommodation in their state guest houses.

The MPs of the 15th Lok Sabha had been given one month i.e. until June 16, to vacate their official bungalows. Only after the former MPs vacate their houses, can the Directorate of Estate provide accommodation to 330 new MPs. Other than former home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, no other MP from the 15th Lok Sabha has vacated the house given to them. "The MPs have a deadline of June 16 and the ministers till June 27 to vacate the house," said an officer in the Urban Development ministry.

In the meanwhile, the MPs who stayed at the hotel were given two rooms — one for the Parliamentarian and the other for use by his personal staff. The tariff for a room at Hotel Ashoka is about Rs 8,200 (including tax) per day. Even if the basic room tariff is calculated, leaving aside the services that the MPs and their attendants may have used in the hotel, the bill for the 180 MPs will go over Rs 1 crore.

The Lok Sabha secretariat has now sent the details of those using the hotel to the Directorate of Estate. "We are writing to the state guest houses to verify whether these MPs stayed at the state guest houses as well," said the officer.