Raghav Chadha targets Kejriwal after BJP merger, revives ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ row
PTC Web Desk: Raghav Chadha on Saturday publicly criticised Arvind Kejriwal for the first time since his dramatic shift to the BJP, backing fresh allegations linked to the controversial “Sheesh Mahal 2” issue.
Chadha’s remarks come just a day after he, along with six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, formally parted ways with the party and announced their merger with the BJP under constitutional provisions. Among those who exited were Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, signalling a significant political setback for AAP in the Upper House.
आज बीजेपी के मंत्री @p_sahibsingh जी ने पूरी मीडिया को बुलाकर अरविंद केजरीवाल जी के तथाकथित नए घर की तस्वीरें दिखाई… लेकिन मज़े की बात ये है कि ये तस्वीरें केजरीवाल जी के घर की नहीं, बल्कि ‘Pinterest’ से डाउनलोड की गई हैं!
क्या दिन आ गए हैं इनके - जब केजरीवाल जी के खिलाफ कुछ… https://t.co/Fc8zTBF5lQ
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) April 25, 2026
Addressing the media, Chadha linked the alleged “Sheesh Mahal 2” controversy to AAP’s electoral performance in Delhi, suggesting that public perception of extravagance had played a role in the party’s defeat. He referred to recently surfaced images of a government-allotted bungalow, claiming they reflected a pattern that voters had already rejected.
The BJP had earlier intensified its attack on Kejriwal, with Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma accusing the former chief minister of maintaining a lavish lifestyle. Verma alleged that after vacating his previous official residence, Kejriwal moved into another high-end government property and upgraded it extensively.
The images in question, shown during a BJP press briefing, were said to depict a Type VII bungalow in Delhi’s Lodhi Estate, allegedly fitted with premium amenities. The party claimed that private funds were used for the enhancements.
However, the AAP swiftly dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless and fabricated. Senior party leader Atishi countered the claims, asserting that the images were not authentic and had been sourced from the internet to malign Kejriwal’s image. In a post on social media, she accused the BJP of resorting to misinformation in the absence of concrete evidence.
The “Sheesh Mahal” controversy itself is not new. The BJP had earlier targeted renovations at Kejriwal’s former official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road, raising questions over rising costs and alleged irregularities. A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report had flagged a steep escalation in expenditure, from an initial estimate of Rs 7.91 crore to a final outlay exceeding Rs 33 crore, along with procedural lapses.
- With inputs from agencies
