Once more, significant political drama is unfolding in Delhi. The reason behind this turmoil is the PWD's decision to seal the Chief Minister's residence located at 6 Flag Staff Road. The department has placed a double lock on the gate. This government residence was vacated following Arvind Kejriwal's resignation as the Chief Minister. Subsequently, Atishi moved in after assuming the CM position. The dispute about vacating and handing over the residence has prompted PWD's action.
Furthermore, Delhi's Vigilance Department has issued a notice to PWD's two section officers and Arvind Kejriwal's former special secretary, asking for an explanation regarding proper handover procedures.
Source: aajtak
After the PWD's intervention, the Aam Aadmi Party leveled accusations against the Lieutenant Governor. The party alleged that under the LG's directives, all of CM Atishi’s belongings were forcibly removed from the residence.
Earlier, the AAP had accused officials of not allocating the bungalow at 6 Flagstaff Road to Delhi's new CM Atishi, succumbing to alleged pressure from the BJP, even though Kejriwal had already vacated it. Delhi Assembly's opposition leader, Vijender Gupta, had accused the CM of illegal occupation and demanded the bungalow be sealed.
Post-sealing: BJP Targets Opposition
Following the sealing, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva remarked, "Arvind Kejriwal, the container of your misdeeds is now full. Your corrupt glasshouse has finally been sealed. Just this morning, the BJP demanded how you could live in a residence without an approved sanction plan or completion certificate, and how you intended to covertly instate Atishi in this house. What secrets lie hidden within this bungalow that made you attempt backdoor entry, without handing the keys to the official department, playing games with the keys? Everyone knows about the drama involving two tempos of belongings, but clearly, the bungalow remained under your control. The unlawful manner in which you tried to establish Atishi in that property violates governmental policy. Atishi herself should reflect on how she could have another residence when one was already allocated to her. Delhi's taxpayers' money was invested in this glasshouse, and now that it’s sealed, I trust these matters will be properly investigated."
Atishi Moves Into CM Residence on Monday
It is noteworthy that Atishi recently moved into the Civil Lines area bungalow in North Delhi with her belongings on Monday. Arvind Kejriwal had lived here with his family for over nine years, vacating it after resigning from the CM post.
On Wednesday, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh held a press conference, alleging that the bungalow still hasn't been officially allocated to Atishi and accused the BJP of attempting to co-opt it. He also claimed the CM's camp office within the premises was forcibly vacated. Displaying documents, Singh asserted that Kejriwal vacated the house properly.
BJP Accuses of Forcible Occupation
The BJP had accused that the bungalow hadn’t been submitted to the PWD and the keys were still with Kejriwal, a claim which Sanjay Singh denied. Responding to these allegations, BJP’s Gupta questioned why Kejriwal did not hand over the keys to the PWD but instead gave them to Atishi. He urged the PWD to seal the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow, accusing the CM of unlawful occupation.
In an X post, he stated that Atishi was already allocated bungalow AB-17 on Mathura Road and accused officials of willfully preserving illegal occupancy on the Flagstaff Road bungalow.
After being named a minister in the Kejriwal administration last year, Atishi was allocated the AB-17 residence.
