Delhi govt's 'jinxed' bungalow now serves as DDC office

NEW DELHI: The bungalow of the Delhi government at 33 Sham Nath Marg, is considered by man as 'jinxed' for politicians and bureaucrats.

Nowadays, it serves as headquarters for the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government's Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC).

The sprawling mansion can be easily located in the leafy Civil Lines area and was built in the 1920s to accommodate senior officers. It was considered the best location for Delhi's Chief Minister as it was only 100 yards from the Delhi Assembly Building.

However, in the last three decades, the bungalow's 'Vastu' is believed to bring bad fortune for its dwellers. Delhi's first Chief Minister Chaudhary Braham Prakash made it his home in 1952 and in 1994, it was home to another Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana.

Both chief ministers lost their jobs prematurely, since which the bungalow has been considered inauspicious by many.

In 2004, much against the advice of his aides and well-wishers, Deep Chand Bandhu, a member of Sheila Dikshit's Cabinet, had moved into the house. After a while, however, Bandhu fell ill and died in hospital.

After AAP came to power in 2015, it set up a new office for the DDC at this bungalow, with AAP leader Ashish Khetan appointed as vice-chairman of the Commission.

After serving for over three years, Khetan resigned from the post on April 16, saying he wanted to focus on his law practise.

Khetan had no problems in getting the government to allot the house to his Commission and he seemingly managed break the jinx associated with the house.