Rs 67-cr tender for Jharkhand CM’s residence triggers political row

A tender for the construction of the Chief Minister’s residence in Ranchi at an estimated cost of Rs 67.04 crore has triggered a political row in Jharkhand, with the BJP opposing the project and the Congress defending it as an administrative necessity.

According to a short-term e-procurement notice issued by the office of the Executive Engineer, Building Construction Department, Building Division No. 1, Ranchi, the proposed residence is to be built at Kanke Road with a completion period of 18 months.

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The notice said the tender would be published on April 2, the pre-bid meeting would be held on April 8, the last date for submission of bids would be April 29, and the bids would be opened on April 30.

Reacting to the development, BJP state president and MP Aditya Sahu on Sunday alleged that the final cost of the project could rise significantly once interior works and furnishing costs were added, and accused the Hemant Soren government of misplaced spending priorities.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters here, Sahu said the government should prioritise welfare commitments instead of what he termed excessive expenditure on official infrastructure. He said the BJP would oppose the project if it involved wasteful use of public funds.

Countering the BJP’s criticism, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and media in-charge Rakesh Sinha said the construction of the Chief Minister’s residence was not a matter of personal luxury but one linked to administrative and security requirements.

He said a properly planned and secure official residence was necessary for smooth governance and accused the BJP of creating avoidable controversy to divert attention from issues such as inflation, unemployment, education and healthcare.

Sinha also alleged that several construction works undertaken during previous BJP governments had faced questions over cost and transparency, and said the party was now taking a politically convenient position.

There was no separate official response from the state government on the issue till the filing of this report.