Aam Aadmi Party's wait for a new office has finally come to an end with Delhi government allotting a spacious bungalow to the party at Rouse Avenue in central Delhi, just opposite the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee's office.
The bungalow, earlier alloted to former AAP minister Asim Ahmed Khan who was sacked over corruption charges, is being refurbished to suit the party's requirements. The structure has multiple rooms and also a decent parking space and a lawn.
Notably, Delhi government had issued a notification in October 2015 that any party which has over 51 MLAs and above is entitled to a 1,000 sq m of land for its office.
The move will help the party save lakhs of rupees it currently spends on its Patel Nagar office.
Also, being in central Delhi, party leaders will find the location convenient due to its proximity to Delhi Secretariat.
"After our victory in 2013, we became a state party. So, we are eligible to get a party office," said an AAP leader.
Party sources said after the 2013 polls, AAP had the option of a plot in South Delhi, where a party office could have been built. However, the place was not convenient in terms of commuting.
AAP has one office in Ghaziabad, where the party is registered. It was also given an office on Hanuman Road in central Delhi by a "well-wisher", but it had to be vacated. Following this, the office was shifted to Patel Nagar.
The party has memories attached to both its offices in Hanuman Road and Patel Nagar. When its office was in Hanuman Road, the party not only saw AAP's maiden victory, but also its drubbing in Lok Sabha. The Patel Nagar office witnessed its spectacular victory in Assembly polls in February 2015 when it won 67 of the 70 seats.
"We have started shifting our stuff to the new office, but it will take some time to settle down," the AAP leader added.
