Sachin refuses official house, will pay for his stay

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha, has turned down the government bungalow he is entitled to as a parliamentarian. The 39-year-old said he would prefer to stay in a hotel at his own expense whenever he is in Delhi to attend Parliament. In pics: Sachin Tendulkar, MP

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha, has turned down the government bungalow he is entitled to as a parliamentarian. The 39-year-old said he would prefer to stay in a hotel at his own expense whenever he is in Delhi to attend Parliament.

"I am not keen on blocking a government bungalow. This would be a waste of taxpayers' money as I reside in Mumbai. It would be better if the bungalow is allotted to someone else who needs it," he said.

Asked to comment on Tendulkar's decision, RS MP Prof PJ Kurien, one of the six standby vice-chairmen of the Upper House, said: "It's a personal decision we should respect."

Tendulkar was reportedly allotted a bungalow close to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's house on Tughlaq Lane in the heart of Capital. MPs are entitled to a "Type VII" bungalow and many of these have sprawling lawns, servant quarters and guest rooms.

In a Twitter comment, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla said, "All RS MPs entitled to Type 7 accommodation in Delhi. Don't understand the unnecessary hue & cry surrounding @sachin_rt's house!!"