Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijender Gupta on Tuesday criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calling it a “sinking ship” and claiming that the party’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections signals its imminent downfall. Gupta’s comments come after reports of a potential rift within AAP’s Punjab unit, which led to a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital.
Gupta remarked, “Kejriwal is holding meetings, but it’s a sinking ship. They’re trying to keep their people together, but it won’t last long.”
AAP suffered a significant blow in the Delhi Assembly elections, with the BJP securing a resounding victory, winning 48 out of 70 seats. AAP, on the other hand, was reduced to just 22 seats, a major drop from its 62 seats in the 2020 elections. This marks the BJP’s return to power in the capital after 27 years.
Gupta also addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding Kejriwal’s official residence, known as the ‘Sheesh Mahal.’ He said, “I have demanded that the properties merged in the Sheesh Mahal be disintegrated. Ten properties intended for Delhi government officials were merged and transformed into a 50,000-square-foot property from the original 10,000 square feet.”
Vijender Gupta called for the properties to be restored to their original condition and for any encroachments on adjacent government land to be removed immediately.
In his letter to the Lieutenant Governor (LG), Gupta alleged that Kejriwal illegally expanded his official residence into a grand “Sheesh Mahal” using public funds. Gupta claimed that the modifications were carried out without official approval, increasing the area from 10,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet by encroaching on neighboring government properties.
Gupta’s letter also outlined how the Kejriwal government had incorporated eight Type-V flats at 45 and 47 Rajpur Road, as well as the government bungalows at 8A and 8B Flag Staff Road, into the Chief Minister’s residence complex. He demanded the immediate removal of these encroachments and the separation of the properties from the CM’s residence.
Gupta condemned the entire matter as a severe case of corruption, stressing that public funds were being misused to build a luxurious mansion while the city’s residents continued to face basic struggles. He called for accountability and transparency in the handling of public resources.