In a scathing attack on the BJP, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj called out the party of sidelining seasoned leaders to install a ‘rubber stamp’ Chief Minister in Delhi, emphasising that official government meetings are being conducted not by CM Rekha Gupta but by her husband, Manish Gupta. Calling it a mockery of democracy, Saurabh Bharadwaj demanded to know under what authority the CM’s husband is issuing directions to officers.
During a press conference, highlighting BJP’s erosion of democratic values, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar gave India ‘Prajatantra’ (constitution and democracy), while the Bharatiya Janata Party has given this country ‘Parchi Tantra’. There was a time when veteran leaders who had spent years struggling for their party and for the people were chosen as Chief Ministers. But BJP’s record in recent years shows a different story altogether.”
Recalling examples across states, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Be it Vasundhara Raje Scindia in Rajasthan, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh, or senior leaders in other states – all have been sidelined. Instead, someone nobody could have even imagined is suddenly declared Chief Minister.”
He pointed out, “It began with Manohar Lal Khattar, then it happened in Gujarat, then again in Madhya Pradesh, and now in Rajasthan. A slip of paper is pulled out — a parchi — and that person is announced as CM. This new parchi mukhyamantri tradition is now in full force.”
Emphasising Delhi’s scenario, the AAP Delhi State President noted, “Even in Delhi, the same pattern has been followed. Big names within BJP were floated as potential CM candidates. When they won just three out of seventy MLAs, those three struggled. Later, eight MLAs were elected, and they too fought hard. Yet, none of them were seen as worthy of becoming Chief Minister.”
He continued, “Instead, someone was made CM whose name no one had even thought of. We thought maybe BJP had some foresight. But now, photos circulating on social media tell a very different story.”
On recent developments, Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the Delhi BJP government, saying, “These photos show that the Chief Minister of the capital of the world’s largest democracy is merely a rubber-stamp CM. The official meetings that she is supposed to chair are being conducted by her husband, Manish Gupta.”
He said he initially expected BJP to deny the matter. “Usually, they say the photo is fabricated or fake. But this time, BJP’s own spokespersons and state president have acknowledged the photo and tried to justify it by saying — so what if the husband is taking meetings instead of his CM wife?”
In a sharp rebuke, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “I am shocked that BJP is defending this. I have one question: What official post does Rekha Gupta’s husband, Manish Gupta, hold in the government? Virendra Sachdeva must tell us. And if he holds no post, then on what basis is he conducting meetings with senior government officers and bureaucrats?”
On constitutional protocol and legal implications of governance, he added, “Whenever you become an MLA, a minister or a Chief Minister, there is one very close and very important event after which you can begin your duties—it is called the oath. The oath of secrecy, the oath of office, the oath of truth and integrity, the oath of allegiance to the Constitution. This oath was taken by Rekha Gupta. Her husband, Manish Gupta, has not taken this oath.”
The AAP Delhi State President further added, “When Rekha Gupta has taken the oath of office, how can her husband issue directions or conduct discussions on official matters? It is simply not possible. Legally, this is completely illegal. This is not a household gathering of the Bharatiya Janata Party.”
On comparisons with popular culture and the erosion of democratic norms, he stated, “This isn’t the TV serial Panchayat and this isn’t the Phulera ki Panchayat where Neena Gupta plays the pradhan and her husband becomes the ‘pradhan pati’. But the BJP has reduced the Delhi Assembly, Delhi elections and all of Delhi politics to exactly that. In their version, Neena Gupta will sit at home while her husband runs the administration. This won’t work in Delhi. Delhi is not Phulera ki Panchayat.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj asserted, “To run politics like this in Delhi is to mock the Constitution and to insult the 2 crore people of Delhi. This is also an insult to women—Delhi is home to educated, capable women who can carry out their responsibilities on their own. They can run the administration, and they can run Delhi. Delhi has been run by a woman before.”
He shared the precedent set by previous women leaders, stating, “Sheila Dikshit was a woman Chief Minister. Never were there allegations that someone from her family was running the administration. Before her, Sushma Swaraj was CM. No one ever alleged that her husband, Swaraj Kaushal, was chairing official meetings.”
“Even when Atishi was in charge, no one accused her father, brother, or sister of running the administration or taking official meetings. Why, then, are such allegations being made only against Rekha Gupta? Because what’s happening is wrong. And the BJP has acknowledged it. We demand answers to our questions from the BJP,” said Saurabh Bharadwaj.
