Guwahati: Newly elected Assam MLAs are rushing to grab rooms at the MLA hostel by putting slips with their names outside quarters in the high-security zone next to the state assembly campus in Guwahati. Sources said this was likely done by people close to the new MLAs, as defeated legislators are now leaving quarters they occupied.
The scramble has grown because the hostel has only 64 quarters for 126 MLAs.
Outside the quarter of former Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, a white paper slip carrying the name of senior BJP leader and newly elected Tinsukia MLA Pulok Gohain was seen pasted on the wall with the entry door. Saikia has been an MLA since 2011 and stayed in that same quarter for his last two terms in the newly built complex. A similar slip was seen outside the quarter of former UPPL MLA Bhupen Boro, carrying the name of newly elected Sidli MLA Paniram Brahma of the BPF. Both Boro and Brahma are from the Bodoland Territorial Council region.
In another case, a sticker with the name of AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal, newly elected from the new Binnakandi constituency, was pasted outside the quarter of his brother Sirajuddin Ajmal, who did not contest this election. As defeated MLAs left with packers and movers carrying out beds and baggage, these attempts to claim soon-to-be-vacant quarters put the assembly secretariat in an awkward position. This is happening even before the formal allotment process has begun.
Official sources said that a list is being prepared on the basis of seniority and allotment will follow that order. Of the 64 quarters, 34 are already occupied by MLAs who won again this time. That leaves around 30 quarters for new occupants. MLAs who do not get quarters will receive Rs 60,000 each for rented accommodation.
Sources in the assembly secretariat said room allotment for MLAs will not be decided by such claims. "Quarters will be allotted only after MLAs formally take oath, though there could be a few exceptions," said a source in the assembly secretariat. Many first-time MLAs may not get hostel quarters, as the allotment process is planned on a seniority basis.
Those MLAs who retained their seats are expected to stay in their existing quarters.
"Some supporters of the MLAs must have pasted such stickers with the names of some MLAs who have been elected in the just concluded election. But while allotting the quarters, their seniority, if they represented in the state assembly earlier, will be counted," a senior official of the assembly secretariat clarified.
