Bhubaneswar, March 30: Facing criticism for keeping more than one government quarters, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, Tourism Minister Ashok Panda and Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati have come forward to return one house in their possession.
Mishra, Panda 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 quarter 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 that 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 while replying a written question in the assembly had named four ministers among 16 legislators who are in possession of more than one government quarter.
The ministers occupying two quarters each are Ashok Panda, Bikram Keshari Arukh, Jogendra Behera and Pradeep Panigrahy. Others possessing more than one government property include leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra, deputy speaker Sananda Marndi, government chief whip Ananta Das.
Former ministers Surendranath Nayak, Sarojini Hembram, Anjali Behera and Pradipta Nayak and five other former MLAs continue to have government houses in possession.
Other MLAs who have kept two quarters are: Bhujbal Majhi, Nrusingha Charan Sahu, Prafulla Majhi, Subrat Tarai, Subal Sahu, Rabi Narayan Nayak and Ramesh Patua, Patnaik had said.
