New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Political parties using sprawling bungalows in Lutyen's Delhi in the heart of the capital as offices will have to vacate them soon following Friday's cabinet decision to allot them land elsewhere to construct office buildings.

The cabinet has approved a new "policy for allotment of land to political parties" under which they will be provided land to construct offices in the capital's institutional areas.

"The Supreme Court has given directions to vacate bungalows occupied by political parties and asked the government to provide land for new offices to them," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after the meeting, explaining the rationale behind the new policy.

The quantum of land that would be considered for allotment to political parties would vary according to the number of MPs in both houses of parliament, Mukherjee said.

According to the new policy, national parties recognised by the Election Commission and having 201 or more MPs would be provided four acres of land.
Parties with 101 to 200 MPs would be given two acres, those with 51 to 100 MPs would get one acre and those with 26 to 50 MPs would get 2,000 sq metres.

"A political party - national as well as state - must have at least seven MPs to become eligible for allotment of land under the new policy," Mukherjee informed.

"Political parties which have four or less MPs would be provided space for office in Vithalbhai Patel House (near parliament)," he added.

According to the new policy, land would be allotted on leasehold basis and parties would have to pay prevailing institutional rate.

"The allottee party shall also pay the annual ground rent amounting to 2.5 percent of the premium," says a note approved by the cabinet. The premises so allowed cannot be used for residential or commercial purpose.