Govt finally allots Lodhi estate bungalow to Kejriwal after year-long wait and court battle

A year after stepping down as Delhi Chief Minister and vacating his Civil Lines residence, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has been allotted a government bungalow in Delhi’s Lodhi Estate.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has allocated 95, Lodhi Estate — a Type-VII bungalow, the second-largest category of government accommodation — to the AAP chief. The allotment came days after the Centre assured the Delhi High Court it would provide him an official residence within 10 days, following Kejriwal’s petition against the prolonged delay.

Since resigning as Chief Minister in September last year, Kejriwal had been staying at the residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, after vacating his Flagstaff Road bungalow. The former CM’s earlier official residence had drawn BJP’s fire over alleged irregularities in its renovation, which the opposition dubbed a “sheesh mahal.”

Kejriwal’s counsel had argued that, by convention, presidents and convenors of national parties are allotted Type-VII accommodations. The court was told that BSP chief Mayawati too was allotted a Lodhi Estate bungalow under the same entitlement before moving out earlier this year.

With the new allotment, Kejriwal now returns to an official residence that matches his party’s national status — ending months of political wrangling and legal intervention.