Jaya may get house first offered to Rekha

Members of the same House, actors-turned-politicians Rekha and Jaya Bachchan - co-stars but not exactly friends - are once again being linked to a house. But this time, it's a government bungalow in Lutyen's Delhi. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.

Members of the same House, actors-turned-politicians Rekha and Jaya Bachchan - co-stars but not exactly friends - are once again being linked to a house.

But this time, it's a government bungalow in Lutyen's Delhi.

Rekha, who was nominated to Rajya Sabha in May, has so far not accepted her 15, Balwant Rai Mehta Lane official residence and this may now be offered to Bachchan, who is on the waiting list.

"We offered two Type 6 bungalows to the two new nominated members - 15 BRM Lane to Rekha and 5, Tughlaq Lane to Sachin Tendulkar. Both haven't accepted them so far. We will wait a few more weeks and then offer the accommodations to wait-listed members Vijay Mallya and Jaya Bachchan," Bhubneshwar Kalita, chairman, Rajya Sabha house committee, told HT.

"We may offer 15 BRM Lane to Bachchan and the other to Mallya," he added.

Bachchan, who last shared screen space with Rekha in the 1981 film Silsila along with husband Amitabh Bachchan, had earlier objected to Rajya Sabha TV cameras being focused on her during Rekha's oath-taking.

She also sought to change her seat (No 91) when Rekha was allotted No 99 in close proximity.

Bachchan had refused the house panel's earlier offers as she didn't find the houses "suitable".

Being a nominated MP, Rekha is entitled to a Type 6 bungalow, which comes with at least three bedrooms.

Bachchan, a two-term Samajwadi Party MP, can also be given such accommodation.

Tendulkar, on his part, has refused government accommodation "but is yet to communicate his decision officially", said Kalita.