BJP says Bhagwant Mann making ‘sheesh mahal’ for Kejriwal in Chandigarh under CM’s quota, AAP calls it 'fake news'

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has come under fresh scrutiny after allegations surfaced that a government bungalow in Chandigarh has been lavishly renovated for Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP, however, has refuted the allegations as "fake news".

Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma has demanded a public clarification from Mann regarding reports that a bungalow in Sector 2, allotted under the Chief Minister’s quota, has been transformed into a new “Sheesh Mahal” for Kejriwal.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sharma said the controversy is no longer confined to Punjab but is resonating in Delhi as well.

Referring to recent remarks by AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who reportedly raised the issue, Sharma directly questioned Mann’s role.

“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ji, is it true that the Sector-2 bungalow allotted to you under your CM quota has been renovated as a new ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for Arvind Kejriwal? The people of Punjab deserve to know the truth,” Sharma posted.

He alleged that, similar to the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy in Delhi — where Kejriwal was accused of spending crores of rupees in public funds on his official residence — a comparable situation now appears to be unfolding in Punjab.

Calling it “an attempt to indulge in personal luxury at the cost of taxpayers’ money,” Sharma urged Chief Minister Mann to issue an immediate clarification on the matter

Earlier in the day, the BJP had alleged that the Kejriwal was being provided a “sheesh mahal with a 7-star facility” in Punjab under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's quota though he is neither an elected MLA nor part of the state government.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also alleged that even the AAP leaders, who had lost elections in Delhi, have been “placed” in various boards and commissions in Punjab, and demanded an explanation from Kejriwal and his party.

“People of Delhi removed Kejriwal from his ‘sheesh mahal' in New Delhi but the sheesh mahal mindset has not gone. And a sheesh mahal, part 2, is being done in Punjab through the taxpayers’ money, under the Punjab chief minister's quota because Kejriwal is the super CM of Punjab,” Poonawalla alleged in a video message.

“He may not be an elected MLA, he may not be in the government, but a 7-star facility is being done only for him at the cost of the Punjabi taxpayers,” he added.

The BJP spokesperson alleged that the AAP, ruling Punjab, has not kept the promises it made to the people of the state.

“They have not given the money they promised to women of Punjab but provided a 100-car convoy for Kejriwal's VVIP security, then a 7-star ‘alishaan' (luxurious) mansion for him,” he alleged.

“And this isn't the only thing. Even AAP leaders, who had lost elections in Delhi, have been placed in the boards and commissions in Punjab. So, the Punjabi taxpayers are being used and utilised to pay for the Aam Aadmi Party leaders of Delhi. This is their mindset,” the BJP spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, AAP has trashed these claims and termed it as fake news.

With PTI inputs