Delhi Budget 2025: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presented her government’s ₹1 lakh crore budget for 2025–26 on Tuesday, using the occasion to not only unveil her administration’s fiscal roadmap but also deliver sharp political jabs at former CM Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The highlight of her speech was the continued spotlight on the ‘sheeshmahal’ controversy, which had become a major campaign flashpoint during the February Assembly elections.
Key Highlights:
Sheeshmahal Returns to Centre Stage
Ms Gupta took direct aim at her predecessor by referring to the alleged misuse of ₹45 crore in taxpayer funds to renovate Mr Kejriwal’s residence at 6, Flagstaff Road—a charge the BJP successfully leveraged during election campaigning. The BJP leader reiterated her party’s promise to turn the bungalow into a public museum, mocking its luxury upgrades such as gold-plated toilets.
“There is a lot of difference between us… you made promises, we will fulfil them. You abused other states’ governments, we will work together. You made the ‘sheeshmahal’, we will build houses for the poor,” Gupta said in the Delhi Assembly.
She even suggested monetizing the controversy, stating:
“We will include ‘sheeshmahal’ on the tourism circuit. We will sell tickets and show people…”
Budget Highlights: Delhi’s ₹1 Lakh Crore Plan
The Delhi Budget 2025 focuses on infrastructure, tourism, public housing, and sanitation, aiming to distinguish the BJP’s governance style from that of the AAP era.
Key allocations include:
- ₹177 crore for developing Delhi as a tourism hub, including Bharat Mandapam and other heritage venues.
- Increased funding for housing and sanitation, with specific focus on urban poor housing and public toilet construction.
- Emphasis on inter-departmental cooperation, contrasting AAP’s frequently combative posture with central authorities.
Political Undertones and Opposition Response
Although Arvind Kejriwal was not present in the House—having lost his New Delhi seat during the February election—Gupta’s speech made it clear that the BJP does not intend to let up on the ‘sheeshmahal’ narrative, which many analysts believe was a decisive factor in the party’s resounding electoral victory.
In 2020, AAP had secured over 60 seats. This time, it managed just 22, marking a dramatic fall from grace, and losing its chief ministerial stronghold for the first time in a decade.
Gupta, seen as one of the BJP’s rising stars in the capital, has led the offensive post-election. Her colleague Parvesh Varma, who defeated Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, even pledged to personally conduct tours of the now-infamous bungalow.
Tourism and Infrastructure: BJP’s Vision for Delhi
Gupta’s vision includes transforming Delhi into a modern urban tourism destination, adding both heritage and contemporary attractions to an official travel circuit. “We will turn Delhi into a tourism hub,” she declared.
In addition to showcasing cultural sites, the government plans to improve public amenities, fix traffic congestion, and accelerate pending infrastructure projects. This, Gupta implied, was in stark contrast to what she termed the “unfulfilled promises” of the AAP regime.
Delhi Budget 2025 Marks a Shift in Governance
The delhi budget 2025 signals not just a financial direction but also a political shift in tone and ambition. Rekha Gupta’s fiery address combined fiscal planning with rhetorical flair, underscoring the BJP’s strategy to hold the previous administration accountable while rolling out its own governance blueprint.
Whether this narrative holds will depend not just on ticket sales to a controversial mansion—but on how effectively her government delivers on its promises in the months to come.
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