It is a classic Catch-22 situation. Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, like several other ministers, has been cooling his heels at the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) guest house in Asiad Village, waiting for his official bungalow to be readied. But it might be a long wait.
The house he has been alloted is 14 Akbar Road. But it is not empty because its current occupant, Mani Shankar Aiyar, who lost the Lok Sabha election, has not been able to shift to 12, Safdarjung Lane, allotted to him. The reason: Margaret Alva, who was appointed Uttarakhand governor in July is yet to vacate the house.
With senior Congress heavyweights in line, Deshmukh has little option but to bide his time.
rounak