Delhi CM Atishi evicted from official residence? CMO says PWD has sealed house

The Delhi Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday (Oct 9) claimed that Delhi LG got all her belongings removed from her Civil Lines residence, where she shifted just two days ago. 

CM Atishi claimed that Delhi LG got all her belongings removed from her Civil Lines residence, where she shifted just two days ago

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) linked the incident to the differences between Delhi lieutenant governor V K Saxena and the chief minister. 

The Delhi CM’s office stated that Lt Governor Vinai Saxena ordered Atishi’s belongings to be removed at the behest of the BJP.

“For the first time in the history of the country, the Chief Minister has been asked to vacate her house. The L-G has forcibly removed CM Atishi’s belongings at the behest of the BJP. Preparations are underway on behalf of the L-G to allot CM residence to a big BJP leader. BJP, which has been in exile in Delhi for 27 years, now wants to capture the CM’s residence,” the office said in a statement.

“A team of PWD officials reached Delhi Chief Minister’s residence, 6-Flag Staff Road, Civil Lines. Delhi LG got all the belongings of Chief Minister Atishi removed from the Chief Minister’s residence,” it claimed. 

The house has been sealed, Public Works Department (PWD) officials said. 

Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said that Arvind Kejriwal’s “Sheesh Mahal” has been sealed, adding that the way he tried to hand over the bungalow to Atishi was unconstitutional. 

“… Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ has finally been sealed… What secrets are hidden in that bungalow that without handing over the keys to the concerned department, you were trying to enter the bungalow again? You created a good drama by taking your belongings in two small trucks. Everyone knows that the bungalow is still in your possession. The way you tried to hand over the bungalow to Atishi was unconstitutional. Atishi has already been allotted a bungalow then how can she take your bungalow? A lot of secrets are hidden in that bungalow…,” Sachdeva said. 

Delhi assembly LoP Vijender Gupta stressed that finally Kejriwal’s PwD employees had to surrender and accept our demands.

“Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘sheesh mahal’ has been sealed… The whole fiasco needs to be investigated. The current CM was illegally moved to the bungalow. What is the conspiracy behind this? Why wasn’t the bungalow handed over to PwD by following protocols… What is Arvind Kejriwal trying to hide in the Sheesh Mahal?…,” he questioned. 

However, the Lt Governor’s office has not responded to AAP’s claims yet. 

Watch | Delhi’s New CM: AAP’s Atishi To Become Delhi’s CM After Kejriwal Resigns

Earlier, former CM Arvind Kejriwal was staying in the house till last week and vacated the residence around three weeks after he resigned from his post.

According to PWD officials, Atishi was in possession of the keys but was not given an official allotment letter for the premises.

Notably, there is no dedicated house earmarked as the official residence of the Chief Minister in Delhi. Kejriwal has been living in that house since 2015. Later, the house was rebuilt in 2020-21, inviting controversy over the related cost.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly, Vijender Gupta, said, “Finally, Kejriwal’s PwD employees had to surrender and accept our demands. Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘sheesh mahal’ has been sealed… The whole fiasco needs to be investigated. The current CM was illegally moved to the bungalow. What is the conspiracy behind this? Why wasn’t the bungalow handed over to PwD by following protocols… What is Arvind Kejriwal trying to hide in the Sheesh Mahal?…” 

In similar reaction, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said, “… Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ has finally been sealed… What secrets are hidden in that bungalow that without handing over the keys to the concerned department, you were trying to enter the bungalow again? You created a good drama by taking your belongings in two small trucks. Everyone knows that the bungalow is still in your possession. The way you tried to hand over the bungalow to Atishi was unconstitutional. Atishi has already been allotted a bungalow then how can she take your bungalow? A lot of secrets are hidden in that bungalow…”

 

(With inputs from agencies)