The tender of Rs 60 lakh has been canceled for the renewal of Delhi Chief Minister’s Rekha Gupta’s official residence, Bungalow No. 1, Raj Niwas Road. The Public Works Department (PWD) took this decision for administrative reasons. The tender included 14 air conditioners, five 4 K smart TV, 115 designer lights, three large chandeliers, 14 CCTV cameras, and other equipment such as dishwashers, washing machines, and geyser. The renewal work was to be completed in 60 days.
Rekha Gupta, who became the Chief Minister after becoming an MLA of Delhi for the first time in February 2025, is currently living in her private house in Shalimar Bagh. They have been allotted two bungalows – one for housing and another for camp office. The camp office was inaugurated last week. The opposition, especially the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress had strongly criticized this tender. AAP called it ‘Mayaamahal’ and said that Delhiites are struggling with the problems of electricity, water and inflation, while the Chief Minister is spending millions at his residence.
Congress President Devendra Yadav alleged that the public is forced to drink dirty water, but the Chief Minister is spending Rs 59.40 lakh on his bungalow. This controversy had warmed the politics of Delhi, because earlier the BJP had also raised questions about Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesmahal’. BJP leaders clarified that this renewal was necessary to fix the old building, but the criticism of this expenditure was increasing among public problems.
The Delhi government informed the PWD to cancel the tender on 9 July. This bungalow was previously used for the employees of the Lieutenant Governor Secretariat. Now it was being prepared for the Chief Minister and his family. The renewal work with this cancellation has stopped indefinitely.