Khobragade outfit owes state Rs8.03 lakh, while Athawale group has an outstanding of Rs1.62 lakh.
Though none of the major parties have defaulted on the monthly rent for the plush, sprawling offices at prime locations in south Mumbai, almost all factions of the Republican Party if India (RPI) have huge outstanding.
The state government has allotted office space ranging from 600 sqft to 3,000 sqft to almost all registered political parties at a rate of Rs7.35 per sqft per month.
The RPI’s Khobragade group, which has not paid the rent for eight years, owes the government Rs8.03 lakh, and the dues of the Athawale group has mounted to Rs1.62 lakh for a period of two-and-a-half years.
The Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharip Bhahujan Mahasangh has an outstanding of Rs69,954 for two years, and the RPI (Democratic) led by TM Kamble owes the state government Rs 51,450 for more than 10 months.
The general administrative department issued notices to these errant parties two months ago.
Mayur Borkar, public relations officer of RPI (Athawale) justified: “The outstanding is due to shortage of manpower because it becomes very difficult keep an account of the dues. We always pay a lump sum amount of the rent. This time, there was delay in paying the rent as we are busy with the civic polls.”
After the Khobragade group requested the government for “suitable instalment”, it has been allowed to pay the monthly rent in addition to Rs1,000 towards the outstanding amount. The Athawale group told the government that it will pay the dues in instalments.
For the last six years, all major political parties have been paying their rent on time.
Reason: In 2006, the Bombay high court had ordered state government to take back office spaces given to parties if they fail to pay the monthly rent. The decision came after hearing a public interest litigation brought to the court’s notice the huge outstanding of each party.
In a related development, an official from the public works department said that the state government does not have any new office space.
“In 2003, the rent for office space was fixed at Rs5 per month, which increases by 25 paise per year. We have been receiving applications from newly registered parties, but they have been denied space due to non-availability,” the official said.
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