New Delhi, April 25, 2025 — BJP leader and Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma launched a scathing attack on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, accusing him of blatant hypocrisy over his opulent new residence at 95 Lodhi Estate, New Delhi. Verma alleged that Kejriwal — who built his political identity on the promise of a simple, common-man lifestyle — is now living in what he termed 'Sheesh Mahal 2', raising serious questions about the funding behind the property.

Verma's 'Sheesh Mahal 2' Allegation

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Parvesh Verma displayed visuals of Kejriwal's new official residence at 95 Lodhi Estate and described it as a property unbecoming of a leader who once swore off government bungalows. "Looking at this house, does it seem like an ordinary person's house? This is Kejriwal's bedroom. It looks like a seven-star hotel suite in Goa," Verma said.

Verma drew a direct line between the earlier controversy surrounding Kejriwal's first 'Sheesh Mahal' — the renovated official Chief Minister's residence at 6 Flagstaff Road that sparked massive political outrage during the 2025 Delhi Assembly election campaign — and this new property, branding it a sequel scandal. The BJP had successfully weaponised the original Sheesh Mahal controversy during the elections, and Verma appears determined to repeat that strategy.

The Broken Promises Narrative

Verma invoked Kejriwal's early political commitments, referencing an affidavit reportedly signed on a one-rupee stamp paper in which Kejriwal pledged he would not accept a government house, bungalow, or car. "Those who have been deceiving the people of Delhi, taking the help of the Anna movement, taking the help of the photo of Mahatma Gandhi, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Babasaheb Ambedkar — giving an affidavit that 'I will not take a government house'… today, they live like kings," Verma alleged.

This narrative is politically potent because it targets the very foundation of Aam Aadmi Party's brand — the image of a grassroots, anti-corruption movement born out of the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement of 2011. Kejriwal rose to national prominence as a self-styled crusader against entitlement and privilege, making his current lifestyle choices a natural target for political opponents.

BJP Demands Funding Transparency

Verma pressed hard on the question of finances, demanding to know whose money was spent on developing the 95 Lodhi Estate property. "Why does the person who promised a two-room flat repeatedly feel the need to build such a Sheesh Mahal? BJP wants to ask: In this new Sheesh Mahal, whose money has been invested? Which companies' money has been used? Where did this money come from?" he questioned.

These are not idle questions in the current political climate. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have previously investigated AAP in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, and Kejriwal himself spent time in judicial custody in 2024. The funding angle, therefore, carries legal undertones beyond mere political rhetoric.

The 'Aalishan Aadmi Party' Jibe

Verma delivered what is likely to become a viral political soundbite, declaring: "In the history of independent India, if anyone has the most extravagant hobbies, his name is Arvind Kejriwal… His party's name should not be 'Aam Aadmi Party', it should be 'Aalishan Aadmi Party'.'

He also referenced the Bollywood film 'Dhurandhar', calling Kejriwal "Delhi's Rahman Dacoit" — a character known for deception — in a culturally loaded comparison designed to resonate with the Delhi electorate. He further alleged that Kejriwal's preoccupation with luxury has blinded him to the suffering of people in Delhi and Punjab.

Political Implications and What Comes Next

The BJP's renewed offensive against Kejriwal over housing and lifestyle is a calculated strategy ahead of potential political battles in Delhi and Punjab. Having swept the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections partly on the back of the original Sheesh Mahal controversy, the saffron party is clearly intent on keeping the narrative alive to further erode AAP's credibility as a party of the common man.

Notably, AAP is simultaneously battling anti-incumbency pressures in Punjab, where it holds power, and is struggling to rebuild its organisational base in Delhi after a historic electoral defeat. A sustained lifestyle controversy targeting Kejriwal could complicate the party's efforts to reset its public image.

Verma confirmed that BJP will continue to raise the issue and demand full financial transparency regarding the 95 Lodhi Estate residence. As the controversy deepens, AAP is expected to respond formally in the coming days — and their counter-narrative will be closely watched by both political observers and Delhi's electorate.