The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been sparring over with each other over accusations of damages at the government bungalow vacated by former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

A video circulating on social media shows alleged damage caused to the walls during removal of air-conditioners. It was alleged that a cycle track and the floor of what seemed to have been a badminton court was found damaged as well.

The SP played down the damage and said the video clips indicated that the BJP was worried over Yadav’s popularity.

“This is an attempt by the Yogi Adityanath government to misguide the people of the state and tarnish Akhilesh Yadav’s image,” SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan said.

He asked why the official bungalows allotted to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh were not shown to the media after they vacated them.

“The reason is that after the electoral losses in Gorakhpur, Phulpur, Kairana and Noorpur, Akhilesh Yadav’s popularity is increasing, and it has given cause for worry to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.”

Sajan also asked why no estates department official was present when the bungalow Yadav vacated was shown to the media.

He said the estates department should provide an inventory of the work done by it at the bungalow.

Yadav is frustrated: BJP

UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, the damage done to the bungalow before it was vacated by Yadav shows his frustration.

Tripathi said the SP and Yadav must tell the people, why the tiles at the house were removed.

The party alleged that the SP leader got a grand bungalow built for himself at government expense after realising that he would not take oath as Chief Minister for the second time.

Estate department to check ‘intentional damage’

Asked about the video clips showing the damage at Yadav’s bungalow, estates department official Yogesh Kumar Shukla said the department will check its inventory to see what fittings were provided by it.

The department will serve a notice if it finds any shortcomings or “intentional damage,” he told PTI.

Of the six bungalows allotted to former chief ministers, only ND Tiwari’s house is yet to be handed over.

On Saturday, Yadav handed over the keys of the official bungalow on Vikramaditya Marg to the UP estates department, an official said.

After this, the authorities let photographers to enter the premises.

Yadav had moved out a few days earlier, complying with the Supreme Court order on May 7 that former UP chief ministers cannot retain government accommodation in Lucknow.

Following the SC order, the UP estates department had issued notices to six former chief ministers – Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh and Akhilesh Yadav.

Barring Congress veteran ND Tiwari, who is ailing in Delhi, all of them have now handed over their official bungalows.

His wife Ujjwala Tiwari has sought more time from the estates department.

SC’s order

On 7 May, the Supreme Court had observed that former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers cannot retain government accommodation after demitting office.

The apex court had struck down the amendment to a Uttar Pradesh legislation which allowed former chief ministers of the state to retain government accommodation even after demitting office.