On Wednesday, the official residence of the Delhi Chief Minister on Flag Staff Road in Delhi was sealed, leading to a political stir. The Public Works Department (PWD) removed CM Atishi’s belongings and evicted her from the property, just days after she had moved in. This unexpected action followed the departure of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had vacated the residence on October 4. Atishi had occupied the house only two days prior to the eviction.
Residence sealed
PWD officials arrived at the residence between 11:00 and 11:30 am, citing procedural violations in the handover of the property. While Atishi held the keys to the residence, officials stated that she had not been provided with the official documents required for the formal allotment of the house. By noon, the officials had confiscated the keys, effectively sealing the house.
The CM's office expressed outrage over the incident, issuing a statement: “For the first time in history, a sitting Chief Minister has been forced to vacate their residence. LG, acting under the influence of the BJP, forcibly removed CM Atishi’s belongings from the house. The BJP, which has been out of power in Delhi for 27 years, is now trying to take control of the CM residence.”
The statement further alleged that preparations were underway to hand over the residence to a prominent BJP leader, suggesting a broader political motive behind the move.
Show-Cause Notices Issued to Senior Officials
As the situation escalated, the Director of Vigilance issued show-cause notices to three officials, including Kejriwal’s special secretary. The other two officials worked in the CM camp office during Kejriwal’s tenure as Chief Minister. The notices demanded explanations as to why the officials failed to hand over the keys of the CM residence to the PWD, despite receiving clear instructions to do so. They were given seven days to respond to the allegations.
Kejriwal trying to retain control of the residence: BJP
The controversy deepened as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) weighed in on the issue. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva accused Kejriwal of trying to retain control of the residence, which he referred to as the "Sheesh Mahal." Sachdeva questioned why Kejriwal had not handed over the keys to the concerned authorities after vacating the property. He hinted at possible hidden agendas, stating, “What secrets are concealed in that bungalow that made you attempt to re-enter it without following proper procedures?”
Sachdeva further criticized Kejriwal’s actions, calling the attempt to transfer the bungalow to Atishi “unconstitutional.” He pointed out that Atishi had already been allotted a separate bungalow, raising questions about why she was moving into the CM residence. He implied that something suspicious was at play, claiming that “many secrets are hidden in that bungalow.”
Kejriwal’s Move to New Bungalow
Arvind Kejriwal officially moved to a new residence on Ferozeshah Road in Lutyens' Delhi on October 4, a bungalow allotted to Ashok Mittal, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab. Despite the move, the drama surrounding his previous residence continues to fuel political tensions.
A Political Battle in Delhi
The sealing of the CM residence and the subsequent political fallout has only added to the ongoing tension between the AAP and BJP in Delhi. While the PWD’s action was framed as a matter of procedural irregularities, both sides have accused each other of deeper political maneuvering. The issue highlights the ongoing power struggle in the capital, with no resolution in sight as accusations and counter-accusations continue to fly.
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