The Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha building, according to the government website, was designed by world-renowned architect Charles Correa by applying his “deep understanding of Vedic principles of architecture.” But some MLAs working from there think its Vaastu is wrong and that it’s killing them. And the government is taking those fears seriously enough to think of corrective measures.

Sixteen legislators have died since Assembly sessions started being held in the building in August 1996, a couple of them even before they were sworn in.

The superstitious are blaming the deaths on bad vibrations. They say it needs the urgent attention of Vaastu consultants to prevent further harm. In fact, State PWD Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has asked for a report from the Institute of Vedic Vaastu & Research Foundation, Indore, which studied the building five years ago.

The minister is to submit its 45-page report, including corrective measures, to Speaker Ishwardas Rohani after discussion with the Chief Minister. “Call it faith or blind faith, incidents are happening and there must be something,” he told The Indian Express on Monday. “Koshish toh kar hi saktey hain. (What’s the harm in trying?)”

While most of the deaths of MLAs were caused by ill health or old age, it was the hacking to death of BJP MLA Kishorilal Varma and his wife in October over a monetary dispute that renewed the MLAs’ call for Vaastu correction.

Twelve MLAs had died between November 1998 and December 2003, when the BJP came to power. Varma is the only one who has died since then. But that hasn’t stopped the ruling party from getting serious about correcting the Vaastu dosh.

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