Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Hits Back at BJP Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2.0’ Allegations

November 1, 2025

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership of converting a government accommodation in Chandigarh into a “Sheesh Mahal” for party national convener Arvind Kejriwal.

‘Official Residence, Not a Sheesh Mahal’: Mann Clarifies

In a video statement, CM Mann dismissed the BJP’s claims, asserting that the house in question is an official government residence used for state guests.

“The same house that the BJP is calling a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ was earlier used to host guests of the Punjab Chief Minister — even a Pakistani journalist, a close friend of Capt Amarinder Singh, stayed there during his tenure, and the BJP never objected then,” Mann said.

He clarified that no special renovation had been carried out and that the property is similar to other official residences allotted to Punjab and Haryana ministers.

‘BJP Has No Agenda for Punjab’

Mann accused the BJP of resorting to false propaganda due to AAP’s growing popularity.
“The BJP is making baseless allegations because they are disturbed by the massive support AAP is receiving in Punjab’s rallies,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister also offered to share the locations of what he called the “real Sheesh Mahals” — referring to Capt Amarinder Singh’s residences and Sukhbir Singh Badal’s Sukhvilas resort.

The Political Row Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2.0’

The controversy erupted after Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma demanded an explanation from Mann regarding reports that a Sector 2 bungalow in Chandigarh — allotted under the CM’s quota — had been renovated and handed over to Arvind Kejriwal.

Sharma wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-ji, is it true that the Sector 2 bungalow allotted to you under your CM quota has been renovated as a new ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for Arvind Kejriwal? The people of Punjab deserve to know the truth.”

He alleged that the situation mirrors the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy in Delhi, where Kejriwal’s official residence was criticised by the Opposition for extravagant renovations.

Delhi BJP Joins the Attack

Echoing similar sentiments, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused Kejriwal of repeating the “Delhi model of luxury” in Punjab.

“What is this Sheesh Mahal 2.0? Are you now planning to loot Punjab the way you did in Delhi?” Sachdeva asked in a video statement.

He alleged that Kejriwal had occupied a multi-crore bungalow in Chandigarh, claiming it to be “even costlier than his Delhi residence.”