BJP May Declare Kejriwal's 'Sheesh Mahal' As Delhi State Guest House While CM Rekha Gupta Awaits Official Residence

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi is planning to use the bungalow at 6, Flag Staff Road, called ‘Sheesh Mahal’ by the BJP leaders for its extravagance, as a state guest house, Indian Express reported.

Former Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal lived in this bungalow from 2015 to October 2024 and spent Rs 33.66 crore on its renovation, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

The BJP attacked Kejriwal for this expenditure of public money during its campaign for the Delhi assembly election held in February and pledged that its CM would not stay in this 'Sheesh Mahal.'

"The city does not have one, unlike other states. Converting the property (6, Flag Staff Road) into such a facility is being contemplated given the area and the location it occupies," an official said emphasising the need for a state guest house in Delhi.

While Delhi might finally get a state guest house in the Civil Lines area that also has the Raj Bhavan, the Delhi Assembly and the Secretariat, the Delhi CM is still in search of an official bungalow.

The bungalow at 6, Flag Staff Road was first constructed in 1942 with five bedrooms and an office space, making it one of the biggest properties outside the Lutyens Delhi area.