The political storm over Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s alleged extravagance has flared up once again — this time with fresh allegations that he has constructed a new ‘Sheesh Mahal’ in Chandigarh, courtesy of the AAP-led Punjab government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AAP’s own Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal have both sharpened their attacks, accusing Kejriwal of misusing government resources for personal luxury.
According to BJP leaders, Kejriwal has been allotted a sprawling two-acre government bungalow in Chandigarh’s Sector 2, allegedly from the Punjab Chief Minister’s quota. The party has claimed that this property serves as his new residence-cum-office, dubbing it the “Sheesh Mahal 2.0” — a reference to the lavish renovation of his Delhi residence that earlier sparked national outrage.
The controversy escalated after Swati Maliwal took to social media, alleging that the former Delhi Chief Minister has “built a Sheesh Mahal in Punjab, even more magnificent than Delhi’s.” She further claimed that Punjab’s state machinery has been repurposed to cater to Kejriwal’s comfort and political convenience.
“After Delhi’s Sheesh Mahal was vacated, Arvind Kejriwal has built a Sheesh Mahal in Punjab, even more magnificent than Delhi’s,” Maliwal wrote, alleging that a government bungalow had been “illegally and illegitimately allotted to him.”
Maliwal didn’t stop there — she accused the Punjab government of using public funds to maintain Kejriwal’s lifestyle and alleged that he used a government helicopter and private jet for political travel. “The entire Punjab government is busy serving one man,” she remarked, suggesting that governance had taken a backseat to political favoritism.
The BJP quickly seized upon Maliwal’s remarks, renewing its criticism of Kejriwal’s image as a “common man”. Party spokespersons alleged that AAP’s leadership had “lost moral credibility” and demanded an inquiry into the bungalow allotment and misuse of public resources.
“This is hypocrisy at its peak. The AAP government that once claimed to represent simplicity now thrives on luxury,” a BJP spokesperson stated, calling for transparency and accountability.
