Bharatiya Janata Party leader Parvesh Verma launched a blistering attack on Arvind Kejriwal this Saturday, branding the AAP chief the "Rehman dacoit of Delhi" and claiming he has established a second "Sheesh Mahal". During a press conference, Verma presented visuals that he alleged were of Kejriwal’s new residence, sparking an immediate and fiery backlash from the Aam Aadmi Party. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh dismissed the images as "completely fake" and warned that both Verma and any news outlets broadcasting them should brace themselves for defamation suits.
Verma’s critique focused on what he described as Kejriwal’s abandonment of his "common man" persona. He claimed that after facing rejection from Delhi voters, Kejriwal had turned his attention to Punjab, allegedly causing significant trouble for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. According to Verma, several government properties near Mann’s residence are currently occupied by AAP heavyweights, including Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain. Verma specifically took aim at Kejriwal’s recent move to 95 Lodhi Estate, questioning how the AAP leader could reconcile such luxury with his earlier promises to live simply.
The AAP leadership was quick to move into damage control. Minister Atishi rejected the authenticity of the BJP's evidence, stating that none of the pictures released belonged to Kejriwal’s home. Sanjay Singh went a step further, challenging Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor and other BJP figures to open their own doors to the public for a comparison of living standards, asserting that the public would soon see "whose house is truly luxurious."
This verbal sparring comes at a particularly vulnerable moment for the AAP. Only a day prior, the party suffered a monumental blow when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs — including high-profile figures like Raghav Chadha and Harbhajan Singh — resigned to join the BJP. Speaking at the Constitution Club, Chadha claimed the exit was prompted by the AAP’s departure from its original principles. The defectors were welcomed into the BJP fold by party president Nitin Nabin, who framed the move as a step towards the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision.
Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann have reacted with predictable fury to the mass defection, with Mann labelling the departing MPs "traitors" and the party leadership accusing the BJP of executing "Operation Lotus" to dismantle their influence in Punjab. Adding insult to injury, the Delhi BJP has since circulated a satirical poster on social media, depicting Kejriwal as an authoritarian director overseeing a crumbling party, complete with imagery of disillusioned workers discarding the AAP's signature broom symbol.
Also read: Defections expose deep fault lines within AAP
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