By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal is once again in the eye of a political storm — this time in Punjab — after opposition parties accused him of enjoying a lavish government bungalow in Chandigarh allegedly built and maintained at public expense. The controversy, dubbed “Sheesh Mahal 2.0, ” has reignited criticism of Kejriwal’s alleged fondness for opulent residences, even as his party continues to project him as the face of the “common man.”
According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other rivals, Kejriwal has been allotted a sprawling government bungalow No.50 in Sector 2, one of Chandigarh’s most exclusive areas, under the Punjab Chief Minister’s quota. The opposition claims the property has been extensively renovated and furnished with premium materials, echoing the earlier “Sheesh Mahal” episode in Delhi — a term coined by critics to describe Kejriwal’s renovated 6 Flagstaff Road residence, where crores of rupees in taxpayer funds were allegedly spent.
Lavish lifestyle under the garb of simplicity
BJP leaders in Punjab have alleged that Kejriwal, despite not holding any constitutional post in the state, has been “enjoying VIP treatment” — including the use of a high-security residence, official staff, and even state resources such as government helicopters and aircraft for AAP’s political activities.
“Arvind Kejriwal claims to be a common man, but he loves to live like a maharaja, ” said Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar. “From Delhi’s Sheesh Mahal to Chandigarh’s 7-star palace, it’s clear that luxury at the taxpayer’s cost is his real lifestyle.”
The BJP further alleges that the Punjab government has effectively “gifted” the Sector 2 bungalow to Kejriwal by diverting a property meant for senior state officials. The opposition has demanded that the Punjab Vigilance Bureau and CBI investigate the allotment process, expenditure, and any renovation contracts executed under the Chief Minister’s office.
AAP dismisses charges as politically motivated
The Aam Aadmi Party has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “false, fabricated and politically motivated.” In a statement, AAP leaders said no bungalow has been allotted to Kejriwal for personal use, and the opposition is “trying to divert attention” from its own corruption scandals.
“Arvind Kejriwal doesn’t own a single inch of land in Punjab, ” said AAP spokesperson Malvinder Kang. “The BJP is manufacturing this ‘Sheesh Mahal 2.0’ narrative because it fears AAP’s rising influence in north India.”
Despite AAP’s defence, images and reports of a large government residence with manicured lawns, high-end furnishings, and multi-layered security have been widely circulated on social media — often compared to the Delhi bungalow controversy. The optics have further fuelled the perception of Kejriwal as a leader preaching simplicity while enjoying official grandeur.
Echoes of Delhi’s Sheesh Mahal
The “Sheesh Mahal” tag first emerged in Delhi last year when reports revealed that Kejriwal’s official residence on 6 Flagstaff Road underwent extensive renovation costing over ₹40 crore. Opposition parties alleged that expensive marble, imported curtains, and high-end fittings were installed even as AAP claimed to stand for austerity.
Kejriwal’s government argued that the bungalow was in a dilapidated condition and had to be reconstructed for safety reasons, but the BJP capitalised on the optics, calling it a “palace built with public money.”
Now, the Punjab chapter of the controversy threatens to deepen the narrative of hypocrisy around AAP’s leadership style — particularly in a state already reeling under corruption allegations and moral scandals involving party members.
Luxury amid political turbulence
The timing of the latest controversy could not be worse for AAP. Punjab’s political landscape is tense following multiple corruption investigations, including the CBI’s arrest of a Punjab Police DIG and court cases involving several AAP MLAs. The opposition has used the Sheesh Mahal 2.0 episode to question the moral authority of Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
“While farmers struggle for compensation and the youth migrate for jobs, Kejriwal enjoys royal comfort, ” said Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. “This exposes the true face of AAP’s so-called ‘honest politics’.”
A growing image problem
For Kejriwal, the controversy reinforces a growing image problem — that of a leader who built his career railing against VIP culture but now seems to have embraced it. Whether in Delhi or Punjab, the repeated accusations of indulgence in luxury housing risk diluting AAP’s biggest political asset: its claim to represent integrity, simplicity, and accountability.
As investigations and political mudslinging continue, the “Sheesh Mahal 2.0” story is likely to remain a potent weapon in the hands of Kejriwal’s opponents — and a lingering embarrassment for a party that built its brand on being different from the rest.