The controversy surrounding the Delhi Chief Minister's former bungalow has heated up, especially with the assembly elections looming in the national capital.
The BJP has sparked the debate by referring to the bungalow, located at 6 Flag Staff Road, as "sheesh mahal" or the "palace of mirrors", a term that signifies extreme luxury and opulence.
This has fuelled criticism against Arvind Kejriwal, who had occupied the bungalow during his tenure as Chief Minister, with the BJP accusing him of living a lavish lifestyle that contradicts his "aam aadmi" (common man) image.
Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva took to social media to share his claims regarding the bungalow’s extravagant features. He alleged that the cost of the bungalow’s renovation amounted to a staggering ₹3.75 crore.
Among the opulent features, Sachdeva pointed to a gym, sauna room, and jacuzzi. The marble granite lighting was supposedly done at a cost of ₹1.9 crore, and civil work was reported to have set back an additional ₹1.5 crore.
According to his post, the fittings for the gym and spa alone cost ₹35 lakh. This description of the bungalow’s lavish renovations has given the BJP another platform to target Kejriwal, especially in light of his past promises of leading a simple life, free from government luxuries.
Sachdeva’s remarks went further, with him questioning how Kejriwal, who made promises of modest living, could spend taxpayer money on such a lavish renovation.
He juxtaposed the luxury of Kejriwal’s residence with the living conditions of ordinary Delhi residents, such as those who could only afford flats or auto rickshaws provided by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has vehemently rejected these allegations, branding them as "baseless propaganda". Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, defended Kejriwal by accusing the BJP of attempting to deflect from more serious issues.
Sisodia suggested that the BJP was trying to distract the public from the mismanagement of public funds in states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, where concerns over education, healthcare, and mid-day meals have been raised.
The AAP leader argued that, instead of addressing these pressing issues, the BJP was focusing on the renovation of a bungalow.
This spat between the BJP and AAP is not new. The BJP has been critical of Kejriwal ever since he occupied the official residence, claiming that the renovation costs were excessively high and unnecessary.
Earlier this year, the BJP had accused AAP of spending over ₹45 crore of taxpayer money on the renovations, which starkly contradicted Kejriwal’s image of a simple, common man dedicated to serving the public.
Adding to the drama, in September, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched an inquiry into the alleged violations of tender rules during the bungalow’s renovation.
Although no formal case has been filed, the investigation is ongoing, and the CBI is awaiting additional details before moving forward. The AAP, in response, has accused the BJP of trying to discredit the party and undermine Kejriwal's political career.
Despite the ongoing inquiry, Kejriwal has welcomed any investigation into the bungalow renovations, claiming that no evidence of wrongdoing will be found.
Follow us
