After weeks of house hunting, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal has finally decided to shift to a new abode from his Tilak lane residence. But the rent for his new four bedroom accommodation, including two rooftop rooms situated in the posh Civil lines area, will be in “several thousands of rupees” instead of Rs 1 as claimed by the party initially.
The house, 4-B Flagstaff Road, chosen by Kejriwal, is owned by late Congress leader and former MP from Chandni Chowk, Bhikhuram Jain’s son Naren Jain. It once belonged to Salman Rushdie’s father, but it was sold out in 1960s. The property was bought by Jain in 2005 and has been lying vacant since then and is now being renovated to welcome the new occupant. Kejriwal is expected to move into the new address only after over two weeks.
“Kejriwal has finalised a house at Civil lines which is owned by Naren Jain, who is an AAP member. Kejriwal will be staying in the house for a rent of Rs 1 only,” said Dilip K Pandey, spokesperson AAP on Friday.
However, Jain told The Pioneer Kejriwal along with his party workers approached him for the house through a broker and the rent will not be Rs 1 as claimed by the party. “I would not be charging Rs 1 for the house as rent. The exact amount will be disclosed once the agreement is signed, but I would be charging some thousands of rupees for the house,” said Jain.
Contradictory views also emerged on Jain’s association with the AAP as the owner of the house further said he is not associated with AAP at all. “The new house in which @ArvindKejriwal is moving, is owned by an AAP member on rent of Rs 1,” read a tweet from the party’s official account posted on Friday. However Jain said, “I am not an AAP member. My father is a Congress leader.
At present, Kejriwal is residing at a government quarter allotted to him after he became the Chief Minister of Delhi at Tilak lane. later in the evening on Friday, the office of Kejriwal also issued a statement saying, “Mr Kejriwal will shift in this house in Civil lines area of Delhi after repair and renovation work. The rent of the house will be decided mutually.”