Alliance partners BJP and PDP have set a unique example of adhering to coalition dharma in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the last two years the State Government spent approximately Rs 2.84 crore on renovation of ministerial bunglows in both the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
Out of this sum PDP ministers spent Rs 141.5 lakh while BJP ministers spent almost an equal amount of Rs 140.45 lakh on renovation of their residential accommodations.
Interestingly, when National Conference and Congress party ran a coalition Government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah Congress ministers spent less money in comparison to National Conference ministers who lived life king-size while occupying their hot seats.
While BJP ministers spent marginally higher amount than their PDP counterparts in Srinagar and in Jammu PDP ministers spent more than their BJP colleagues on renovating their comfort zones.
While Chief Minister spent Rs 16.19 lakh on renovation of her official residence in Jammu BJP’s forest minister lal Singh spent highest amount of Rs 31.41 lakh on renovating his residences in both the cities. He is closely followed by PDP’s Naeem Akhtar who is currently holding the charge of education department and is chief spokesman of the state Government.
Akhtar spent Rs 28.79 lakh on renovating his bunglows in Jammu and Srinagar. Deputy Chief Minister from BJP Prof Nirmal Singh spent Rs 25.56 lakh while Health Minister Bali Bhagat spent close to Rs 20 lakh on renovating both the houses.
CAPD Minister Zulfkar Choudhary spent Rs 21.01 lakh and Relief, Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Basharat Bukhari spent Rs 17.64 lakh. Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu is leading by example by keeping a close check on expenditures. He spent less than 10 lakhs on renovating his residences in Jammu and Srinagar.
When it comes to availing TA bills alliance ministers incurred total expenditure of 20.09 lakhs during last two years. Deputy Chief Minister Prof Nirmal Singh claimed Rs 5.79 lakh TA bills while Finance Minister clained Rs 3.03 lakh TA bills. The council of ministers incurred additional expenditure of Rs 24.21 lakh on serving refreshments during the same period.
Hospitality and Protocol department spent Rs 18.03 lakh in Jammu and Rs 26.61 lakh in Kashmir in organising dinner/lunch and other official meetings hosted by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti between April 2016 to December 2016.