Punjab Congress demands CM Mann evict illegal occupants from ministerial houses
Synopsis
Punjab Congress chief Warring has taken direct aim at CM Bhagwant Mann over the alleged unauthorised occupation of government ministerial houses in Chandigarh — naming Raghav Chadha, now a BJP MP, as a key example. With charges of police misuse, unofficial allotments, and Punjab Bhawan rooms given to out-of-state AAP workers, the opposition is framing this as a pattern of entitlement that Mann's government has failed to address.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on 26 September demanded CM Bhagwant Mann evict 'illegal occupants' from ministerial houses in Chandigarh .
Congress alleged that former AAP MP Raghav Chadha , now with the BJP , was allotted a government house in Chandigarh and an exclusive floor in Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi .
Punjab Police personnel and vehicles were allegedly misused during Chadha's wedding in Udaipur , according to Warring.
Congress questioned the allotment of a ministerial house to Gayatri Bishnoi and her parents, and criticised her for alleged foul language against Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira .
Warring alleged further misuse of Kapurthala House , Nabha House , and Circuit Houses ; the AAP government is yet to formally respond.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday, 26 September demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann immediately vacate all ministerial houses in Chandigarh from what he called 'illegal occupants,' and charge penal rent from those found to have misused the properties. The remarks mark a sharp escalation in the opposition's attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.
The Core Allegations
Warring questioned why sitting ministers were being forced to stay outside their allotted residences while others occupied them without authorisation. 'Who has allowed and authorised such people to occupy the ministerial houses, while the ministers in whose names these houses have been allotted are forced to stay outside?' he asked.
He specifically cited the allotment of a government house in Chandigarh to then-AAP Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha, who has since crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Warring alleged that Chadha had also been given exclusive access to an entire floor in Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi — a facility meant for Punjab's official use.
Police Misuse and Udaipur Wedding Claims
Warring further alleged that Punjab Police personnel and vehicles were misused during Chadha's wedding in Udaipur, claiming public money was squandered on the event. He added that ministerial suites in Punjab Bhawan were allotted to personal assistants of AAP leaders, while other rooms were reportedly given to AAP workers from different states during the Delhi election campaign.
Gayatri Bishnoi Controversy
The Congress leader also questioned the allotment of a ministerial house in Chandigarh to Gayatri Bishnoi and her parents. 'Even if this has been allotted for the treatment of her father, how many people from Punjab who come for treatment to Chandigarh are allotted such houses?' Warring asked. He separately criticised Bishnoi, identified as an AAP leader, for allegedly using 'foul language' against Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, calling the conduct 'unacceptable.'
Kapurthala House, Nabha House and Circuit Houses
Warring broadened his critique to include alleged misuse of Kapurthala House and Nabha House in New Delhi, as well as Circuit Houses across the state. 'This is not misuse, but complete abuse, and this has never happened before in Punjab,' he remarked.
Accountability Demand and Mann's Role
Holding Chief Minister Mann directly responsible, Warring alleged that Mann had 'surrendered before his Delhi bosses' and was acting as a 'mute spectator' to these developments. 'Did the people of Punjab elect you for this, that Punjab's ministers are not allowed to stay in their allotted houses and outsiders are allowed to occupy them?' he said. The Congress also demanded that penal rent be charged from all illegal occupants, consistent with precedents set in previous administrations. The AAP government is yet to formally respond to these allegations.
Point of View
Named individuals, named events like the Udaipur wedding. But specificity cuts both ways: without official records or court orders confirming these allotments, the charges remain contested political claims. What is notable is the Congress targeting not just AAP's governance but its internal contradiction — a party that came to power on an anti-corruption, anti-VIP culture platform now accused of replicating the very conduct it once campaigned against. If even a fraction of the Raghav Chadha allotment and Punjab Police misuse allegations are substantiated, the reputational cost to AAP in Punjab could be significant, particularly as the 2027 assembly election horizon comes into view.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Punjab Congress demand from CM Bhagwant Mann on 26 September?
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann immediately vacate all ministerial houses in Chandigarh from alleged illegal occupants and levy penal rent on them. He accused Mann of being a 'mute spectator' to the misuse of government properties.
What is the Raghav Chadha house allotment controversy?
Warring alleged that Raghav Chadha, a former AAP MP who has since joined the BJP, was allotted a government house in Chandigarh and an exclusive floor in Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi. He also claimed Punjab Police personnel and vehicles were misused during Chadha's wedding in Udaipur.
Who is Gayatri Bishnoi and why is she mentioned in this controversy?
Gayatri Bishnoi is referred to as an AAP leader who was allegedly allotted a ministerial house in Chandigarh along with her parents. Warring questioned the basis for this allotment and separately criticised her for allegedly using foul language against Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
Which other properties are alleged to have been misused?
Warring alleged misuse of Kapurthala House and Nabha House in New Delhi, as well as Circuit Houses across Punjab. He also alleged that ministerial suites in Punjab Bhawan were allotted to personal assistants of AAP leaders and rooms were given to AAP workers from other states during election campaigning.
Has the AAP government responded to these allegations?
As of the time of reporting, the AAP government had not issued a formal response to Congress's allegations regarding ministerial house allotments, police misuse, or the Gayatri Bishnoi controversy.
