What began as a debate over the cost of the chief minister’s residence has snowballed into a full-fledged war of optics, with the BJP and the AAP clashing over public spending. While the BJP has raked up the ‘Sheeshmahal’ debate again, the AAP has taken aim at the Rekha Gupta government over the VVIP boats for Yamuna inspection, worth several crores.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the renovation of former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road, tabled earlier this week, sparked the debate. The report stated that the bungalow was renovatd at the total final cost of Rs 33.6 crore, which was a 342% jump from the original estimate.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the findings as a “document of moral decline”, while calling for accountability. She accused the previous AAP government of focusing on luxury when Delhi at needed investment in roads and core infrastructure. “The promise of simplicity remained only a slogan, while the reality reflected a culture of extravagance,” she said. She also alleged that the residence remained inaccessible to the public, claiming it was neither opened for citizens nor used for public hearings. Escalating her criticism, Gupta accused Kejriwal of acting like an “emperor”, and made references to what she described as a ‘Sheesh Mahal-2’ in Punjab, targeting AAP’s governance outside Delhi.
Meanwhile, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said that another structure was being built alongside the main bungalow, and that this structure was spread over nearly 4000 square yards. “Sheesh Mahal is not one, but two”, he said, adding that around Rs 25 crore had already been spent on this extension, with the projected cost rising to Rs 60 crore.
Verma further stated that the project’s initial tender of Rs 7.9 crore was repeatedly revised upwards, with the same contractor continuing throughout – raising questions over the tendering process. He also alleged that during the pandemic, the project was prioritised, with the files marked “most urgent”.
The House then unanimously agreed to send the matter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a detailed probe.
However, the AAP hit back sharply, with an AAP functionary saying, “During the period when the official residence of the Delhi CM was being renovated, the PM’s residence was also being built. Yet, every detail of the CM’s residence is in the public domain, while every detail of the PM’s residence has been kept secret. How is this justified? When will this country have an honest discussion about its expenditure.”
He added, “We are ready for a fair debate. But there cannot be a selective debate targeting only one residence. We have been saying this for the last two years, and we are reiterating it now.”
The party also questioned the BJP about the proposed purchase of luxury boats for Yamuna inspection. In a pointed remark, AAP said that “those planning to buy a VVIP boat for Rs 6.2 crore” – a reference to reports on Delhi govt’s initiating the process to procure two air-conditioned boats for the Yamuna’s inspection – “cannot question a Rs 30-crore CM residence”.
