It has been nearly seven months since former YSR Congress Party leader V Vijay Sai Reddy resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership and the party on “personal grounds,” stating that he had been sidelined and neglected within the organization.
The seat vacated by Sai Reddy was allotted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as per the understanding among the three alliance partners – the Telugu Desam Party, the BJP, and the Jana Sena Party.
The BJP nominated senior leader Vaka Satyanarayana, who was subsequently elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed.
During his tenure as a Rajya Sabha member, Sai Reddy had been allotted a relatively new and posh MP quarters on Tughlak Road in New Delhi.
Even after relinquishing his membership, he continued to occupy the accommodation, reportedly thanks to lobbying in the national capital.
He has been making repeated attempts to join the BJP in order to retain his privileges.
Sources said he often traveled to New Delhi on Mondays and returned to Hyderabad by Fridays, though his exact activities in the capital remain unclear.
According to the latest reports, however, the Directorate of Estates (DoE) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has now issued a notice to Sai Reddy directing him to vacate the MP quarters immediately, so that it can be allotted to newly elected Rajya Sabha members.
As per the rules, all former MPs and ministers are required to vacate their official bungalows within one month of the completion of their term. Yet, Sai Reddy has managed to retain the quarters for over six months.
The DoE allots accommodation to MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha housing pools based on seniority.
Former MPs who fail to vacate their allotted houses are served with show-cause notices, and if they still fail to comply, they face forcible eviction.
Sources indicate that Sai Reddy is still lobbying with the Centre, leveraging his proximity to BJP leaders such as Sujana Chowdary and B L Santosh.
“If his lobbying succeeds, he may continue in the same quarters for some more time. But as per the rules, he will eventually have to vacate and find new accommodation,” sources added.
