Rekha Gupta Slams Kejriwal: Warns of Punjab Facing Delhi’s Fate

Rekha Gupta Warns Punjab: Don’t Repeat Delhi’s Mistakes Under Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has escalated her attacks on former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, charging him with misgoverning Delhi and raising alarms that Punjab might likewise suffer under his rule. Gupta’s statements have led to a flurry of political conversation in view of the fact that, traditionally, any criticism against Kejriwal germinates into political conflict between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

While laying out the Delhi government’s ₹1 lakh crore budget for the year under review, CM Gupta made a frontal attack on the Kejriwal regime. Heterogeneously, Gupta expressed her administration’s priorities with the past: “There is a lot of difference between us; you made promises, we will fulfill them. You abused other states’ governments, we will work together. You made the ‘Sheesh Mahal,’ we will build houses for the poor. You installed (gold) toilets worth lakhs, we will make toilets for the poor.”

The phrase “Sheesh Mahal,” refers to the allegation that Kejriwal’s government allegedly spent public funds extravagantly refurbishing the Chief Minister’s residence, a charge strongly criticized by his adversaries. Gupta’s comments are interpreted as a promise for her government to restore development efforts that favor the public, especially housing for the lower classes.

This is not the first time Gupta has opposed Kejriwal’s way of ruling. She indicated at the India Today Conclave earlier in March 2025 that not much had elapsed since Kejriwal had made the kind of disparaging remarks that would only have beenfit Between Her and His Setmind. Contrastingly, Gupta further pictured herself to be out among the masses and deal with the issues directly, whereas Kejriwal’s governance was absent.

Gupta sought not to keep her comments only to Delhi, as she went on to express fears about the apparent influence of Kejriwal in Punjab. “He ruined Delhi, Punjab could be next” was Gupta’s statement to show her fears that a similar governance problem she alleges Kejriwal had in Delhi might play out in Punjab, where AAP is present.

In reaction to the budget presentations and remarks by Gupta, AAP leaders have pushed back. Opposition Leader Atishi called the budget “hawa hawai” because it had very little substance and no realistic base. She berated the BJP government for cutting funds to several important sectors such as education and health while on the other hand strengthening them.

The animus102 between Gupta and Kejriwal has clearly extended into social media. Back-and-forth exchanges between supporters of these two have become common, with BJP backers flaming Gupta for attacking Kejriwal for so long. Users have circulated screenshots of the many occasions Gupta has targeted Kejriwal, seeking to prove that her current attacks are consistent with her previous ones.

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However, besides some verbal bluster, the real differences concern actions of Kejriwal that actually seem to go against the very spirit of his anti-VIP culture.

His recent visit to a meditation retreat in Punjabi Hoshiarpur was marked by a substantial convoy and drew sharp reactions. Critics, led by BJP leaders, alleged that he had now developed the same VIP culture from which he had once distanced himself, with some going as far as calling his convoy a “Maharaja’s.” 

The exchanges between Gupta and Kejriwal signal the widening chasm between the two parties, amid the shifting political gears in Delhi and Punjab. Gupta’s statement introduces itself as a BJP strategy to question the AAP’s record of governance and undermine its influence outside of Delhi. Whether these critiques will be relevant to the voters or take into effect AAP’s chances in Punjab remains to be seen.

CM RK Gupta’s comments directed at Arvind Kejriwal’s governance have revived a new political controversy. Her commitment to public welfare as opposed to ‘luxury’ sets the stage for a political battle which could reverberate well into neighbouring Punjab.

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