TMC MP Yusuf Pathan receives notice for alleged ‘encroachment’ issue.
Former allrounder Yusuf Pathan won the Lok Sabha polls from the Baharampur constituency.
In Vadodara, the BJP-led Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has stirred controversy by issuing a notice to Yusuf Pathan, the newly elected Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP, accusing him of encroaching on municipal land.
The notice, served on June 6, has sparked a public debate, with VMC’s standing committee chairman Shital Mistry addressing the media following concerns raised by former BJP corporator Vijay Pawar.
Yusuf Pathan, a former cricketer renowned for his all-round skills, clinched victory from the Baharampur constituency in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, results of which were announced on June 4.
Speaking to reporters, Vijay Pawar alleged that despite the state government rejecting VMC’s proposal to sell the plot to Pathan back in 2012, the MP had proceeded to encroach upon the land by erecting a compound wall.
Pawar clarified, “I harbor no personal grudge against Yusuf Pathan. The disputed plot in Tanadalja area, under TP 22, is owned by VMC. In 2012, Pathan had requested this plot from VMC as his residence, then under construction, was adjacent. He had offered nearly Rs. 57,000 per square meter.”
The proposal was initially approved by VMC and passed during a general board meeting. However, Pawar pointed out that the state government, being the final authority on such matters, had ultimately declined approval.
I later discovered that Pathan had proceeded to construct a compound wall around it, effectively encroaching upon the land. Subsequently, I urged the municipal corporation to launch an investigation,” Pawar added.
Confirming the sequence of events, Shital Mistry reiterated that the state government’s denial of the plot’s sale to Pathan had been followed by several representations indicating unauthorized construction by the MP.
We will wait for a response over the next few weeks before deciding on further action. This land unequivocally belongs to VMC, and we are committed to reclaiming it,” asserted Mistry.
The development has sparked widespread discussion, especially considering Pathan’s recent electoral victory under the TMC banner. The issue underscores the complex interplay between civic authorities, elected representatives, and public perception of land use and ownership.
As the controversy unfolds, Vadodara residents and political observers alike await further developments in this contentious matter, poised at the intersection of legal scrutiny and political accountability.
In related news, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation continues to assert its stance on reclaiming the disputed land amid growing public interest and scrutiny from various quarters.