After the High Court diktat that four former chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh should vacate their official bungalows, BJP ruled state government has re-allotted same residences to three leaders but did not extend similar motion towards Digvijaya Singh.
Not being given a fresh allotment like former CMs from BJP like Uma Bharti, Babulal Gour and Kailash Joshi, Digvijaya Singh sent his belongings to his ancestral home in Raghogarh fort in Guna.
The three BJP former chief ministers have been re-allotted their old bungalows in the category of ‘eminent persons’ quota. They will have to pay a monthly rent of Rs 6,000 for their palatial accommodations.
Earlier last month, state government had cancelled the allotment of B-type bunglaow to former chief ministers of the state — Digvijaya Singh, Uma Bharti, Babulal Gour and Kailash Joshi. Uma Bharti was CM of the state between 2003 to 2004. Babulal Gour succeeded Uma Bharti in 2004 to hold the post till 2005. Gour continues to be an MLA since then. Uma Bharti is a member of parliament but from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh. She has been forced by BJP not to pursue her political career in Madhya Pradesh. Kailash Joshi was chief minister between 1977 to 1978.
Uma Bharati also has an official bungalow on Akbar Road in Lutyens zone of New Delhi. Congress leader and member of parliament Digvijaya Singh has an official bungalow in Lodhi Estate area of New Delhi.
The government of Madhya Pradesh gives a special status of a cabinet minister to all former chief ministers of the state irrespective of their political parties. Digvijaya Singh as chief minister in 1996 had amended the Madhya Pradesh Mantri (Salaries and Allowances) Act 1972 to give life-long facility of a cabinet-minster to all former chief ministers. Under this act a former chief minister of the state is entitled to get the rank and facilities of a cabinet minister for life time. The former CMs got bunglaows as part of their entitlement.
However, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh struck down the provision of free accommodation after a petition was filed. In a similar petition earlier, at the Supreme Court, the provision of free accommodation was termed as unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court in the case of bungalows to former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers has said that a former chief minister is just like any other a commoner and not a “special class of citizen” who can enjoy unlimited privilege and official bungalows at the taxpayers expense.
According to government sources, the houses to former BJP chief ministers were re-allotted under the ‘’instructions from the chief minister’’ there were no specific orders about Digvijaya Singh's bungalow on Shyamala Hills. The re-allotments have been done for life-time. After vacating the bungalow, Digvijaya Singh has written to chief secretary of the state that he needs space for his office where close to 14 government officials are posted.
Singh however did not get reply from state government and his deadline of August 19 to vacate the house was nearing. Hence, he decided to get his things packed and sent back to Raghogarh.
In Uttar Pradesh, after the Supreme Court, ruling all the former chief ministers of BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party were forced to vacate the official bungalows. ND Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh and Akhilesh Yadav vacated their bungalows. However, in Madhya Pradesh BJP leaders have been allowed to stay while a similar motion has not been extended to the Congress leader has not been extended similar facility.
Interestingly many Congress leaders like BJP leaders still enjoy government accommodation though they aren't entitled to it. Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Suresh Pachauri continue to retain government bunglaows while Jyotiraditya Scindia has not been allocated any residntial quarters in Bhopal. Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Singh Tomar occupy sprawling bungalows in professors colony of Bhopal.