AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Friday targeted party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that a “Sheesh Mahal” more magnificent than his Delhi residence has been constructed in Punjab. Maliwal’s X post read, “After Delhi’s Sheesh Mahal was vacated, Arvind Kejriwal has built a Sheesh Mahal in Punjab, even more magnificent than Delhi’s.” There is Aam Aadmi Party’s government in Punjab headed by CM Bhagwant Mann.
She further claimed that Kejriwal has been allotted a luxurious “seven-star” government bungalow, raising questions about the legality and legitimacy of the allocation, given that he does not hold any public office. “Arvind Kejriwal has been given a luxurious 7-star government bungalow of 2 acres in Sector 2, Chandigarh, from the Chief Minister’s quota,” she added.
State Machinery Diverted for Party Supremo
Maliwal further alleged that the Mann government in the state has been using state resources to cater to Kejriwal’s personal comfort, pointing to his travel arrangements. “Yesterday, he boarded a government helicopter from in front of his house for Ambala. Then, from Ambala, a private jet of the Punjab government took him to Gujarat for party work. The entire Punjab government is busy serving one man,” AAP Rajya Sabha MP said.
The controversy over Kejriwal’s alleged extravagance is not new. The BJP has repeatedly criticised him for “Sheesh Mahal-style governance,” a term referring to his official residence in Delhi, which underwent costly renovations during his tenure. Maliwal herself has frequently highlighted what she describes as the AAP’s focus on luxury over civic governance, including staging a high-profile protest in January 2025 to highlight neglected sanitation issues in Delhi.
The “Sheesh Mahal” debate had earlier resurfaced in May 2024 after Maliwal alleged that she was assaulted by Kejriwal’s personal assistant at his then-official residence, keeping the issue in public discourse.