In a fresh escalation of the ongoing political tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the central government, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi's belongings were 'forcibly' removed from her official residence on Wednesday. The move has sparked widespread criticism and allegations of political interference.
According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the Public Works Department (PWD) was instructed by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to vacate the residence at 6, Flag Staff Road in the Civil Lines area of Delhi. This action comes just two days after Atishi moved into the bungalow, which was previously occupied by her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal.
The CMO accused Lieutenant Governor Saxena of giving orders to remove Atishi's belongings, alleging that this was done at the behest of the BJP-led central government. The residence, known as 'Sheesh Mahal' for its luxurious facilities, has been a point of contention between the AAP and the BJP.
AAP senior leader Sanjay Singh claimed that officers were not allotting the bungalow to Atishi and that the BJP was trying to 'usurp' the CM's residence. This, he said, was because the saffron party had been unable to defeat AAP in assembly polls in Delhi.
Responding to Singh's charge, BJP's Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly, questioned why the keys of the bungalow were not handed over to the PWD by Kejriwal and instead 'got into the hands of Atishi.' Gupta also demanded that the house be sealed, accusing Atishi of 'occupying' the facility illegally.
The controversy comes as Delhi is set to hold assembly elections in February, with Kejriwal stating that he will not accept the CM's post until he gets a 'certificate of honesty' from the people. Following his resignation, the party picked minister Atishi to replace him as CM.
Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva also weighed in on the issue, stating that Arvind Kejriwal's 'Sheesh Mahal' had finally been sealed and that many secrets were hidden in the bungalow. He questioned why Kejriwal tried to enter the bungalow again without handing over the keys to the concerned department.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had earlier sent a letter to Kejriwal asking him to hand over the keys of the chief minister's residence. The department cited ongoing vigilance cases related to construction at the bungalow as the reason for its request.
The entire fiasco has raised questions about the legitimacy of Atishi's tenure as CM and the role of the Lieutenant Governor in the governance of Delhi. The AAP has accused the BJP of trying to undermine their authority and disrupt the functioning of the government.
As the political standoff continues, it remains to be seen how this situation will be resolved and what implications it will have for the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi.
