Renovation plans for the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta have been put on hold due to administrative reasons. The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi informed the state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), about the cancellation of a tender worth Rs 60 lakh. This decision came just three days after the tenders were scheduled to be opened.

The tender was intended for electrical upgrades, including the installation of 14 air conditioners, televisions valued at Rs 9 lakh, and light fittings costing an additional Rs 6 lakh. Ms. Gupta, a first-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and an unexpected choice for Chief Minister following the BJP’s significant victory in February’s election, had waited nearly 100 days before being assigned a bungalow as her official residence.

In early June, Ms. Gupta was allotted properties adjacent to Raj Niwas Marg in Delhi’s Civil Lines area for her term as Chief Minister. She opted not to occupy the bungalow previously used by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also located in Civil Lines. The BJP had criticized Mr. Kejriwal’s residence, labeling it a ‘sheeshmahal’ and accusing him of spending crores of taxpayers’ money on extravagant refurbishments.

The bungalow, spanning 40,000 square yards after an alleged unauthorized merger of four government-owned plots, served as Mr. Kejriwal’s official residence from 2015 until October 2024. A report by the Central Public Works Department in October 2024 highlighted ‘luxurious renovations’ and ‘high-end appliances,’ prompting a federal probe into potential irregularities.

Mr. Kejriwal dismissed these allegations as politically motivated attacks by the BJP to distract from its alleged shortcomings in Delhi. Neither the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nor Mr. Kejriwal have commented on the delayed tender for Ms. Gupta’s residence.

The controversy surrounding the ‘sheeshmahal’ and a separate liquor policy corruption case involving Mr. Kejriwal contributed to the AAP’s electoral defeat, with voters favoring the BJP instead. Upon assuming office, Ms. Gupta announced plans to convert the controversial bungalow into a museum.