Space crunch

Though the CPI(M) is badly short on space for its MPs and whole-timers, it has decided that as long as she is alive, Pritam Kaur, the widow of former general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, will continue to live in an MP’s bungalow. The bungalow, behind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence at 7 Race Course Road, has been officially allotted to a senior party MP but the CPI(M) has reserved this for Kaur. The party’s accommodation woes increased as its strength in the current Parliament is now down to just 16 — the accommodation allotted to the MPs is typically used to house not just the MPs but also the party whole-timers.