Public Works Department withdraws controversial tender for luxury upgrades at Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s official residence; AAP alleges backdoor intentions, demands full disclosure.
New Delhi [India], July 10:
The Public Works Department (PWD) has cancelled the tender for the renovation and upgradation of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s official residence at Bungalow No. 1, sparking a political firestorm. The withdrawal of the proposal—seen as excessively lavish—prompted a swift and pointed response from AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj, who accused the BJP of buckling under public and political pressure.
The now-cancelled tender included extensive upgrades such as:
- 14 air conditioners
- Five LCD televisions (including one 65-inch and four 55-inch units)
- LED lighting installations
- Geysers
- A 10-litre microwave oven with an LCD display
- Full electrical wiring replacements and fixtures
These luxury additions, initially intended for CM Gupta’s newly allotted residence, raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
💬 AAP Questions Intent, Demands Transparency
“If such luxuries were genuinely required, why cancel the tender? And if they weren’t, why issue it in the first place?”
— Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP Delhi President
Bharadwaj alleged that the cancellation appears to be a damage control tactic following rising public outrage, media scrutiny, and strong criticism from opposition parties.
He also pointed out that CM Rekha Gupta was reportedly allotted two ministerial bungalows, a break from precedent. Traditionally, ministers in Delhi receive only one bungalow, with additional portable cabins used for office work.
“This is an unprecedented move. Soon after she was allotted not one but two bungalows, this massive renovation tender was floated,” Bharadwaj said, hinting at what he called “a pattern of entitlement.”
🔍 Was the Tender a Front for Backdoor Spending?
Bharadwaj did not mince words, further speculating that the tender may have been withdrawn only to pursue the same renovations discreetly.
“Now we hear that the tender has been cancelled. AAP wants to know — was there never a need for these items in the first place? Or is this just a ploy to install the same luxuries via backdoor channels?”
He added that BJP likely scrapped the tender due to mounting backlash on social media and pressure from the opposition.
“I believe the BJP buckled under public pressure, criticism by AAP, and the social media outrage,” he said. “But that doesn’t answer the real question — why was such extravagance considered necessary in the first place?”
🏛️ Rekha Gupta Must Respond, Says AAP
Demanding a full public explanation from CM Rekha Gupta, Bharadwaj concluded:
“That bungalow has been used by ministers before. Why were such extravagant items suddenly deemed necessary? Rekha Gupta must come clean. The people of Delhi deserve answers.”
The BJP is yet to issue a formal response regarding the cancellation or AAP’s allegations.