BJP objects Harish Rawat's stay in state guest house

Ajay Bhatt alleged Uttarakhand CM' camping at Bijapur state guest was a sheer waste of public money

Opposition BJP in Uttarakhand has raised objection to Chief Minister Harish Rawat still residing along with his officials at the Bijapur state guest house despite the CM residence located nearby, alleging it was a sheer waste of public money.

"Lakhs of rupees are being spent over maintenance of the CM residence. Still, the chief minister has been camping at the Bijapur state guest house along with a dozen officials including his OSD and PRO for more than a month despite the fact that his official residence is located just a few metres away.

"Isn't it unfair and a drain on the state exchequer?" Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt said in a statement here.

Bhatt said, with rooms of the state guest house occupied by the chief minister and his officials, they can't be given on rent to others, which is the main source of income for the state facility.

Responding to a complaint in this regard, chief election officer Radha Raturi has sought a report from the Estate Department on the matter.

"We had received a complaint in this regard. As the Model Code of Conduct is in force, no one is entitled to occupy any of the rooms in the state guest house for more than two days. So we have sought a report from the Estate Department on the matter," Raturi said.

Rawat has been residing in the state guest house ever since he took over as the chief minister of Uttarakhand replacing Vijay Bahuguna on February 1.