According to a senior official in the Union housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) ministry, the Union cabinet has approved a proposal to change the category of land allotted to political parties for their offices from institutional to central government-to-government. This decision will benefit 14 political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, who owe the Centre between 100 and 150 crore rupees.
The proposal to change the category from institutional to central government-to-government was approved by the cabinet on September 7,” said a MoHUA official.
According to the official, these political parties received land allocations between 2000 and 2017 at institutional land rates from before 2000. The allotment was made with the understanding that the parties would be responsible for covering the difference in land rates once they were updated, an activity that was started in 2017, he continued.
According to another official, various political groups have expressed concerns about an increase in land rates. The land rates will be significantly decreased when the cabinet approves the change in land category, giving relief to these parties.