Dhankhar vacates VP Enclave, shifts to Abhay Chautala's farmhouse

NEW DELHI: Former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday vacated VP Enclave , almost six weeks after his unexpected resignation from the second highest constitutional post. Dhankhar has shifted to a farmhouse at Gadaipur in south Delhi's Chhatarpur, which belongs to INLD chief Abhay Chautala , in what is supposed to be an encampment before he gets an official bungalow.

Videos showed Dhankhar, the first occupant of the Enclave, leaving the sprawling complex in the evening, accompanied by a cavalcade of cars, police escort vehicles, and an ambulance.

Chautala said on X that he had offered his place to the ex-VP because of their old family links. "We have old family ties with him. He is like a family member. When I asked him where he was shifting, he said he was thinking about it. I told him it (my farmhouse) is his house. Till the new official accommodation is allotted and ready, he can stay in our house," the INLD chief said.

'No movement to identify any retirement home for Dhankhar'

A few days ago, INLD leader Abhay Chautala had told mediapersons in Haryana that he was confident of Jagdeep Dhankhar soon speaking about why he resigned from the VP post while asserting that he had spoken to the former VP.

Sources said the VP Enclave will be made ready for Dhankhar's successor in the next 10 days. The VP election will be held on Sept 9 and NDA's candidate C P Radhakrishnan is the favourite. TOI has learnt that so far there has been no movement to identify any retirement home for Dhankhar, with sources saying that the housing & urban affairs ministry would begin shortlisting available type-VIII bungalows in the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone after getting a communication from MHA. "That process will take some time as after identifying bungalows, there will be some renovation and other works," said a source.

Meanwhile, govt functionaries whom Dhankhar had selected to be attached to him have raised eyebrows in govt quarters by putting in requests for residential accommodation in Delhi. Sources said that usually such requests are routed through the proper channel.

Dhankhar shared close ties with former deputy PM Devi Lal and his son, the ex-chief minister of Haryana Om Prakash Chautala. Though the former VP crossed over to Congress and, later, joined BJP, he had attended O P Chautala's last rites in Khera village of Sirsa district.

Dhankhar got the Central Public Works Department to add many features, including a swimming pool, to the VP Enclave. The privileges will now be availed of by his successor, who will get a full five-year term.