BJP Launches 'Sheeshmahal' Protest Against AAP Over ₹45 Crore Renovation

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by its Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, staged a protest on Thursday outside the Civil Lines residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The protest, dubbed the 'Sheeshmahal' issue, centres on allegations that Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spent ₹45 crore on renovating the Chief Minister’s bungalow, which the BJP has criticised as an extravagant misuse of public funds.

BJP supporters, including recent recruit Kailash Gahlot, a former AAP leader, gathered in large numbers, demanding answers from Kejriwal about the cost and source of funds for luxury upgrades like gold-plated toilet seats and a ₹27 lakh TV set. The protest came months before the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections and was spurred by Gahlot’s resignation from AAP, where he cited the 'Sheeshmahal' controversy as emblematic of AAP's betrayal of its core values of serving the common man.

Despite the uproar, the AAP maintains that the upgrades were necessary due to the deteriorating state of the 1942-built residence, with the Public Works Department (PWD) allegedly recommending the improvements.

Kailash Gahlot, who served as Transport Minister under Kejriwal, was once considered a frontrunner to replace him. However, his sacking in December 2023 led to his shift to the BJP, a move described by Union Minister ML Khattar as a “turning point” for the party ahead of the election. Gahlot denied any external pressure, amid ongoing accusations that the BJP uses investigative agencies to influence rivals.