Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Facing criticism for keeping more than one government quarters, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, tourism minister Ashok Panda, parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh and Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati have come forward to return one quarters in their possession.
Mishra, Panda, Arukh and Bahinipati’s action came two days after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik revealed the names of the ministers and MLAs possessing more than one government quarters.
The Leader of Opposition, who also represents Bolangir in the Assembly, has written a letter to the Assembly secretary to take back one government quarters while Panda also informed his willingness to return one House. “I have been telling the Speaker to take back one house in my possession,” Bahinipati said.
Mishra, also a lawyer, however, argued an MLA can avail two quarters as per norms. “I returned one as some MLAs have not got government accommodation so far. I have also asked my party MLAs possessing double quarters to vacate one,” Mishra said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had named four ministers among 16 legislators who are in possession of more than one government quarters.
The ministers occupying two quarters each were Ashok Panda, Bikram Arukh, Jogendra Behera and Pradeep Panigrahy. Others having more than one house were Naras-ingha Mishra, deputy speaker Sananda Marndi, and government chief whip Ananta Das.
Former ministers Surendra-nath Nayak, Sarojini Hembram, Anjali Behera and Pradipta Nayak and five other ex-MLAs continue to possess quarters.
Other MLAs with two quarters are Bhujbal Majhi, Nrusingha Sahu, Prafulla Majhi, Subrat Tarai, Subal Sahu, Rabi Nayak and Ramesh Patua, Patnaik had said.
