Delhi CM's Residence Sealed : PWD Officials Remove Atishi's Belongings Amid Political Tensions

Delhi CM’s Residence Sealed : PWD Officials Remove Atishi’s Belongings Amid Political Tensions

Shubh Labh October 9, 2024

In a significant development, the Chief Minister’s official residence on Flag Staff Road in Delhi was sealed on Wednesday. The Public Works Department (PWD) reportedly removed the belongings of Chief Minister Atishi, who had recently moved into the residence just two days earlier. The move comes after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal vacated the residence on October 4, leading to a political standoff between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

PWD officials arrived at the residence between 11:00 and 11:30 AM to carry out the sealing process. According to the officials, the handover procedures for the residence were not conducted according to protocol. While Atishi had possession of the keys to the residence, the official allotment documents for the property had not been provided to her. By the afternoon, the officials had reclaimed the keys, effectively sealing the residence.

The Chief Minister’s Office issued a strong response to the incident, stating, “For the first time in history, a Chief Minister has been forced to vacate their residence. The Lieutenant Governor, under pressure from the BJP, forcibly removed CM Atishi’s belongings from the house. This residence is being prepped to be handed over to a senior BJP leader. The BJP, which has been out of power in Delhi for 27 years, now aims to seize the CM’s official residence.”

This incident has ignited a fresh political controversy, with AAP accusing the BJP of using the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s office to manipulate government resources for their benefit. The BJP, on the other hand, has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations.

As tensions rise between the ruling AAP government in Delhi and the opposition BJP, this dispute over the CM’s residence could mark the beginning of a broader political battle ahead of the next elections. The sealing of the residence has raised questions about the treatment of elected officials and the underlying political motives that may be at play.