Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Relocates to Flagstaff Road Bungalow Amid BJP-AAP Tensions

Chief Minister Atishi has moved into bungalow number 6 on Flagstaff Road in north Delhi's Civil Lines. This relocation occurred on Monday, shortly after Arvind Kejriwal, her predecessor, vacated the premises for a new residence in Lutyens Delhi. The BJP, however, claimed that the bungalow has not yet been officially handed over to the public works department (PWD) for reallocation.

After settling into her new official residence, Atishi met with her staff for an introductory session on Monday afternoon. Her personal items were transported earlier in a small goods vehicle. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issued a statement asserting that the keys to the bungalow were given to Atishi by the PWD on Sunday. They accused the BJP of misleading the public over this matter.

Controversy Over Bungalow Handover

The BJP has raised concerns about the handover process of the bungalow. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, shared a purported PWD letter dated October 6. He alleged that Kejriwal had not fully vacated his previous residence and still retained possession of it. Gupta claimed that most of Kejriwal's belongings remain in what they have dubbed "Sheesh Mahal."

The BJP has been vocal about alleged irregularities concerning the construction and expensive interiors of the Flagstaff Road bungalow. They have been campaigning against these issues, highlighting what they perceive as financial mismanagement.

AAP's Response to Allegations

The AAP countered these allegations by stating that the General Administration Department had issued a no-dues certificate for Kejriwal. This certificate confirmed that all utility bills related to the bungalow were settled by him. Additionally, when Kejriwal vacated the Chief Minister's residence, a Vacation Report was officially issued by the PWD.

The report indicated that a junior engineer from PWD inspected the house and checked its inventory before issuing it. Following this inspection, the keys were handed over to Atishi by the PWD, according to AAP.

Background on Residence Allocations

Atishi was previously allotted a bungalow on Mathura Road after becoming a minister in Kejriwal's government last year. Before moving to her new official residence, she lived with her parents in south Delhi's Kalkaji area.

Arvind Kejriwal resigned as chief minister in September and vacated his Civil Lines bungalow last Friday. His new address is 5, Ferozeshah Road near Mandi House, which was previously allocated to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal from Punjab.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also recently moved residences. He vacated his previous home and relocated to Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh's official residence on RP Road last week.