‘Phulera-style governance in Delhi’: AAP questions presence of Rekha Gupta's husband presence in official meetings; BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday hit out at Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, comparing her administration to the popular web series Panchayat. It alleged that the CM’s husband, Manish Gupta was being allowed to play an active role in government functioning. In return, the BJP also hit back with "Sunita Kejriwal" dig.

The AAP said the situation resembled the series, where the elected sarpanch serves largely as a figurehead while administrative work is handled by her husband.

Also Read: BJP counters AAP's 'Phulera Panchayat' jibe; takes 'Sunita Kejriwal' dig


In a post on X, AAP questioned, “Is the government of Phulera's Panchayat currently running in Delhi?”


AAP leader and former health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also launched a scathing attack on Delhi CM.

In a post on X, he said: "Just as in Phulera's panchayat, where the woman sarpanch's husband acted as the sarpanch, today in Delhi, the CM's husband is sitting in official meetings."


Bhardwaj said the move was completely unconstitutional, adding that in the nation’s capital both democracy and the constitutional system were being mocked. He accused the BJP of indulging in the very dynastic politics for which it frequently criticises the Congress.

“This is completely unconstitutional. In the nation’s capital, democracy and the constitutional system are being mocked. The BJP, which often attacks the Congress over dynastic politics, must answer whether this is not the same,” Bhardwaj wrote.

He further questioned why a family member was being given such authority, asking: “Does the CM of the world’s largest party have no worker left whom she can trust? What is that work which only a family member can do?”

The AAP leader asked what the reasons were for the chief minister to establish her husband’s authority. He further questioned why her husband was being made a part of the government’s administrative system in this way.

He also posted photographs showing her husband seated beside the chief minister in official meetings.

Meanwhile, BJP alleged that it was "CM Madam" Sunita Kejriwal, on whose direction, officers carried out "illegal orders" during AAP government's regime.

"The Aam Aadmi Party should find something more substantive to target Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. She was holding a review meeting of her constituency, which is managed by her husband—just as Smt. Sheila Dikshit’s constituency was managed by her sister Rama Dhawan, and Sunita Kejriwal used to look after Arvind Kejriwal’s. Unlike Sunita Kejriwal, however, the CM’s husband was not sitting on her chair or issuing illegal orders that senior officers were forced to record on file as 'CM Madam has directed'," Amit Malviya said.

The criticism comes after photos of Manish Gupta attending official meetings appeared both on Rekha Gupta’s personal Instagram account and the official handle of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The controversy has evoked comparisons with Panchayat, a web series by TVF on Amazon Prime set in the fictional village of Phulera, Uttar Pradesh.

The show depicts Manju Devi (played by Neena Gupta) as the elected sarpanch, but it is her husband Brij Bhushan Dubey (played by Raghubir Yadav) who effectively handles all administrative responsibilities.
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