Amaravati: Naidu's TDP gets four acres, rest shut out

 

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s government amended guidelines, making the allotment of land to political parties tougher in the new capital, where property rates are soaring. The size of the plot is now dependent on the party’s strength in the Assembly.

 

According to the new policy of the government, National parties or recognised state political parties are allotted land. They are allocated up to four acres if the party has 50 percent of the total strength of the Lower House (Assembly). 

 

In the case of Andhra Pradesh, it is 175 seats.  If the party strength ranges from 25 percent to 50 percent in the Lower House, the political party is eligible to get up to half an acre. If party’s strength is below than 25 percent, it qualifies for only 1000 square yards.

 

As per the new guidelines, the land will be allotted to political parties on a lease, first for 33 years at a rental of Rs 1000 per acre per annum. And the contract period is extendable up to 99 years if the party survives.

 

 This effectively means, the Congress, CPI and CPM, which have no presence in the Assembly, are not eligible to apply for an allotment of land either in Amaravati or the Capital Development Region.

 

All these political parties have palatial buildings in Hyderabad as their party headquarters. While the Congress functioned from Gandhi Bhavan, an iconic structure in the heart of the town, CPI had built a multi-story building named after Communist veteran Maqdoom Mohiyuddeen. CPM also owns a relatively large office in the city. 

 

It may not be possible for these parties to get that much land allotted for the construction of new offices in Amaravati. The only party eligible to get land allotted is the opposition YSR Congress - though a meagre half-acre.

 

As per the new guidelines, the ruling Telugu Desam Party alone is eligible to get a four-acre parcel of land to build its office in the capital city.

 

In the districts, the largest party, with 50 percent strength, will get two acres and the party with strength ranging from 25 % to 50 % is eligible to get just 1000 square yards. 

 

Parties with a strength below 25 percent are eligible for a 300-square-yard plot.

 

Thanks to these new guidelines, the ruling Telugu Desam party can acquire large chunks of land at the state capital and district headquarters. The opposition YSR Congress, whose strength has fallen from 62 to 42 will get only half acre. YSR Congress now functions from a palatial building in Lotus Pond in Hyderabad’s upmarket Jubilee Hills area. Now it has to make to do with just half acre land or else the party has to purchase the land from Realtors, which is a scarce commodity in Amaravati and the CRDA jurisdiction. 

 

The Congress, which ruled the state for over fifty years, is not eligible to get land allotted in the new capital as it has no representation in the House. The party is now functioning from Andhra Ratna Bhavan, its Vijayawada Congress office. CPI and CPM, which failed to enter the house in 2014 elections, are suffering the same fate.