The Gujarat government has now approved the allotment of the land for which Yusuf Pathan had applied 14 years ago. The estimated price of the disputed plot of 978 square meters in Vadodara is Rs 20.53 crore. The decision to allot land has come at a time when Pathan left Trinamool Congress (TMC) and joined Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). However, the allotment of land has not yet reached the final stage.
Tezzbuzz Desk– Former Indian cricketer and MP from Baharampur, West Bengal, Yusuf Pathan has got a big relief from the Gujarat government. On October 19, 2026, the Gujarat government approved the allotment of the disputed 978 square meter plot in Tandalja area of Vadodara to Pathan. The dispute regarding this land is about 14 years old. In 2012, Pathan had demanded Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to give this plot on a 99-year lease. However, this proposal was rejected by the state government in 2014.
How did the land dispute start?
Yusuf Pathan had given two main reasons during his application in 2012.
♦ He is an international cricketer and he has security concerns.
♦ This land adjacent to his family bungalow will be convenient for residential use.
The Standing Committee and General Assembly of Vadodara Municipal Corporation had passed a proposal to allot land without public auction and sent it to the state government. But in June 2014, the Urban Development Department rejected the proposal, saying public auction or open bidding was necessary to allocate valuable land.
After the proposal was rejected, the Municipal Corporation alleged that Yusuf Pathan had encroached upon the land by fencing it. In June 2024, when Pathan became MP from Baharampur Lok Sabha seat of West Bengal by winning the election on Trinamool Congress ticket, this matter again came into discussion. Meanwhile, Vadodara Municipal Corporation issued them a notice to remove the encroachment.
Pathan challenged this notice in Gujarat High Court. His lawyers cited government policy allotting land to international players, while the municipal corporation asserted its rights over the land.
How did the events change after leaving TMC?
In this entire matter, the events of the year 2026 are being considered special. Yusuf Pathan was among the 20 TMC MPs who left the party and merged with NCPI after BJP's victory in West Bengal in June 2026. After this Pathan was made the National Vice President of NCPI.
After this the events progressed rapidly.
♦ On 13 August 2026, Gujarat government passed a proposal related to land allocation.
♦ On August 29, this proposal reached Vadodara Municipal Corporation.
♦ On August 31, Yusuf Pathan withdrew his appeal from the Gujarat High Court.
♦ On 19 October 2026, the Gujarat government approved the allotment of the disputed plot.
Questions are also being raised regarding this sequence of political developments and government approval.
The way for getting land worth how many crores of rupees has been cleared?
According to the Gujarat government's proposal, out of the total plot of 978 square meters, 500 square meters of land will be given free of cost to Yusuf Pathan for residential use. At the same time, the remaining 478 square meters of land will be transferred at 55 percent of the fixed price. That means you will get 45 percent discount on this part.
Vadodara Municipal Corporation had assessed this land at Rs 2.10 lakh per square meter in July 2026. According to this, the estimated price of the entire plot comes to around Rs 20.53 crore.
♦ Total land: 978 square meters.
♦ Free allottable land: 500 square meters.
♦ Land available at concessional rate: 478 square meters.
♦ Estimated price of the entire plot: Rs 20.53 crore.
♦ Estimated value of free land: Around Rs 10.5 crore.
In this way, the way has been cleared for Pathan to get free land worth about Rs 10.5 crore. Apart from this, they will also get the remaining land at a price 45 percent less than the fixed price.
Why did the government say that this will not set an example?
The Gujarat government has made it clear in its proposal that this allocation will not be considered a precedent for the future. Also, the Revenue Department will allot another land of equal value to this land to Vadodara Municipal Corporation as compensation. This condition is being linked to the special nature of the decision.
Has Yusuf Pathan got the land yet?
At present, the land allotment process has not been completed. According to Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu, the Municipal Corporation has received the approval from the state government, but the detailed conditions are yet to be decided.
♦ The proposal will first have to be approved by the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation.
♦ After this it will be placed before the general meeting.
♦ Only after these approvals the allotment process can be finalized.
The political aspect of this entire matter is also under discussion. The proposal for allotment of land was rejected in 2014, a notice to remove encroachment was issued in 2024 and after the political change in 2026, the allotment was approved. The sequence of events has raised questions about the decision. However, no official confirmation of any direct connection between the land allotment decision and Yusuf Pathan's political change has emerged.