Bungalow No. 1: AAP gets new office space in Delhi's Lutyens area

After months of push and pull between the Indian government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding the latter's office space, the party will be moving into Bungalow No. 1, Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane inNew Delhi.

The governmentprovided the new office space to AAP following a directive from the Delhi High Court on Thursday (Jul25). The decisionfollows a June ruling where the Delhi HCrecognised AAP's entitlement to use a housing unit from the general pool until permanent land is allocated for building its office.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing AAP, informed the high court that a national party is entitled to a temporary office until land is provided for constructing a permanent one.

Delhi HC Justice Subramonium Prasad ruled that pressure or lack of availability is not a valid reason to reject AAP's request. Therefore, the high court instructed the government to address AAP's request for temporary accommodation within six weeks.

AAP had submitted a plea to the high court, requesting the governmentto allocate suitable land for constructing its office, as it is a recognised political party.

The party's headquarters currently operates from the Rouse Avenue area, which was allotted in 2015 after AAP formedthe Delhi government with a full majority. Previously, the party was based in rented properties in the national capital'sPatel Nagar and Connaught Place.

"Attempts were being made to oust AAP from its office and push it onto the streets. That it be trampled upon and finished. This is a common courtesy in politics that you allot an office to a party. It is unfortunate that we have to approach the court even for this," Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

"We welcome that with the court's repeated directions, Centre was compelled to allot an office to AAP. But it's unfortunate and they should have allotted the office before we moved the court," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)