Disqualified as MP, Rahul Gandhi gets notice to vacate govt bungalow in a month

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been asked to vacate his official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi, following his disqualification as an MP.

The Lok Sabha Housing Committee on Monday reportedly issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi to vacate the government-allotted bungalow.

Gandhi, who has been living in the official accommodation since 2004 when he was first elected as a lawmaker, has been given a notice to vacate the bungalow by the Lok Sabha Housing Committee, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on March 24, a day after he was convicted by a magisterial court in Gujarat in a defamation case.

A notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday said Rahul "stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951".

A Surat court had convicted Gandhi in a criminal defamation case on March 23 and sentenced him to two years in jail. The two-year jail term triggered his automatic disqualification as Lok Sabha member.

A senior official told PTI that a disqualified Lok Sabha member has to vacate the official bungalow within one month of losing his membership. Another official said that Gandhi can write to the Housing Committee seeking an extended stay, a request that can be considered by the panel.

The notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat was marked to various departments, including the Directorate of Estates, New Delhi Municipal Council, and all the benefits available to Gandhi as a member of Parliament too are under review.

Owing to the RP Act and his conviction of two years, Rahul Gandhi cannot contest an election for eight years unless his conviction is stayed or set aside by a higher court.

Rahul Gandhi is yet to file an appeal in the defamation case, in which he was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail.

The Wayanad MP was allotted the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow after his election to Lok Sabha in 2004.