The political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party intensified after Delhi minister Parvesh Verma accused Arvind Kejriwal of living a luxurious lifestyle and alleged that he had constructed a second “Sheesh Mahal” at his new official residence in Delhi.
At a press conference, Verma made strong remarks against Kejriwal, claiming that despite projecting himself as a leader who lives simply, he had moved into a high-end government bungalow at Lodhi Estate and upgraded it with lavish features. He presented visuals that he said were from the residence and asserted that the BJP would expose what it described as “Sheesh Mahal 2.” He also criticised Kejriwal’s political shift in focus after electoral setbacks, linking it to developments in Punjab and suggesting internal pressure within the party’s leadership there.
Verma further alleged that multiple government accommodations near Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were being occupied by AAP leaders, including senior figures such as Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia. He also referred to Kejriwal’s earlier statements about not accepting government housing, claiming that these had been contradicted by his current residence.
In response, AAP leaders strongly rejected the allegations. Sanjay Singh dismissed the visuals shown by Verma as “completely fake, false, and baseless” and warned that both the BJP leader and media outlets broadcasting the images could face defamation proceedings. He accused the BJP of using misinformation to target Kejriwal and damage his public image.
Singh also issued a public challenge, asking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, and Parvesh Verma to open their residences for public inspection, stating that Kejriwal would be willing to do the same so that citizens could compare and judge for themselves.
Delhi minister Atishi supported Singh’s position, stating that the images presented by Verma were not from Kejriwal’s residence and were being misrepresented. She reiterated that the claims lacked authenticity and accused the BJP of attempting to mislead the public.
The controversy comes amid heightened political tension following a major development in Parliament, where seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Vikramjit Sahney, and Rajendra Gupta — resigned from the party and joined the BJP. The move significantly reduced AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha and intensified the political conflict between the two sides.
The BJP welcomed the defecting leaders, with party president Nitin Nabin stating that they would contribute to the broader national vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders accused the BJP of orchestrating the defections as part of a larger political strategy to weaken the party, referring to it as “Operation Lotus.”
Amid the ongoing dispute, the BJP also amplified its criticism through social media, sharing stylised visuals portraying Kejriwal in a negative light and suggesting internal dissatisfaction within the AAP. The exchange of allegations, counterclaims, and legal warnings reflects a deepening political confrontation, with both parties seeking to shape public perception and defend their respective positions.
