Request for allotment of land to 5 parties pending: Govt

Request of five political parties, including Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena and BSP, for allotment of land for building party offices in Delhi is pending with the government, Lok Sabha was informed today.
According to the guidelines, parties which have been recognised as national political parties by the Election Commission of India and the state recognised parties having at least 7 MPs in both Houses of Parliament, are considered for allotment for land in the national capital.
The area of land considered for allotment varies depending on the strength of the party in Parliament.
The current strength of TMC is 46 in both Houses of Parliament, while Shiv Sena has 21 MPs and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 10.

Other political parties whose requests are pending are Nationalist Congress Party with 12 MPs and Shiromani Akali Dal which has 7 MPs in Parliament, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in written reply in Lok Sabha.
In reply to another question, he said TMC was allotted a plot of land measuring about 1008 square metres at DDU Marg but the party refused to take the possession and requested for a bigger plot on the basis of its strength in Parliament.
Similarly, Shiv Sena, which was recommended for allotment of land at MB Road in Saket, refused to accept the offer and requested for allotment at DDU Marg.

BSP, which was alloted a plot at DDU Marg, did not deposit the land cost, Naidu said.