L-G Vijay Kapoor lives in a wonderful, sprawling bungalow in a choice part of Lutyens' Delhi, on 3 Motilal Nehru Marg, quite close to the better political addresses on nearby Janpath. Nobody would grudge him a home, except there's already one meant for him, Raj Niwas, though admittedly in a less socially exciting area, in Old Delhi. During the tenure of a predecessor, Romesh Bhandari -- a gentleman who has since made a mark with gubernatorial renovations -- the residential wing was declared "dangerous" by the PWD in 1990, and was later demolished. Nine years later, it's still to be completed, though a spokesperson told MT the new wing "will be ready very soon". It will cost the taxpayer about Rs 3 crore.

Such grand renovations are beyond the realm of chief ministers. But they have needs too. Recently-appointed Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been allotted 4 Circular Road. The present occupants, late President Zail Singh's family, are to move away. This lovely stretch of Lutyens is also quite close to Dikshit's party President Sonia Gandhi. She would have been closer still to her place of work, the Vidhan Sabha, just a two-minute walk away, had she chosen to stay at the official residence of the chief minister on Sham Nath Marg. Her predecessor Sahib Singh Verma did not stay there either. Now, the lavish spread is a guest house for visiting babus. "The minister of urban affairs (Ram Jethmalani) doesn't wish to join issue with the Delhi government on a small matter like the CM's house," harrumphs a top ministry official. Second official homes. They're quite the rage in the capital.

--Sayantan Chakravarti