Delhi CM’s Husband At Official Meet: AAP Fumes, BJP Defends
Sharing a photo from a government meeting in which Manish Gupta, the CM’s husband, was seated beside her, AAP said the capital was being run like a village panchayat.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday accused Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta of allowing her husband to participate in official work, likening the administration to the fictional “Phulera Panchayat” from the popular web series.
Sharing a photo from a government meeting in which Manish Gupta, the CM’s husband, was seated beside her, AAP said the capital was being run like a village panchayat where non-elected family members wielded influence. The reference was to Panchayat, a web series that depicts a woman pradhan whose husband often takes charge of village affairs and is fondly known as 'pradhan pati'.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj escalated the criticism, alleging that the CM’s husband was routinely present in official meetings, interacting with officers, and even joining inspections. Bharadwaj further accused the BJP of hypocrisy, saying the party had often attacked the Congress for dynastic politics but was now promoting the same.
The AAP leader also pointed out that the photographs showing Manish Gupta seated in meetings were publicly available on the CM’s official Instagram account and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) X handle.
A similar row had erupted in April this year when Manish Gupta was seen presiding over a government meeting involving officers from the municipal corporation, Delhi Jal Board, and Public Works Department, with Mrs. Gupta not visible in the room. AAP leader Atishi had accused CM Gupta's husband of unofficially running the Delhi government. She also compared the situation to what is often seen in villages.
BJP responds
The BJP, however, in response to the political row, said that there is "nothing wrong" in CM Gupta's husband sitting in the government meeting. BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva had defended Mrs. Gupta, saying it was "perfectly normal" for family members to attend meetings and support public representatives. BJP's IT Cell Head Amit Malviya also defended CM Gupta, asking the Opposition to "stop targetting her" just because she is a woman.
What's Your Reaction?
