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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta after photos surfaced showing her husband Manish Gupta seated
in official meetings. The party alleged that he was being allowed to play an active role in government functioning, drawing parallels with the popular web series Panchayat. In a post on X, AAP asked, “Is the government of Phulera's Panchayat currently running in Delhi?” The comparison refers to the show’s storyline, where the elected sarpanch is largely symbolic while her husband actually runs the administration.
AAP leader and former Delhi health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj went further in his criticism. “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,” he wrote on X.
Calling the move a violation of constitutional norms, Bhardwaj said, “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.”
He also raised pointed questions about the BJP and the CM’s decision. “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?” he asked. Bhardwaj questioned why Rekha Gupta had chosen to “establish her husband’s authority” and integrate him into the administrative system in this way.
The AAP leader posted photographs of Manish Gupta from the Chief Minister’s Office and Rekha Gupta’s personal Instagram handle, which showed him seated alongside her during official meetings.
The controversy has reignited the debate over dynastic politics, with AAP accusing the BJP of practicing the same trend it frequently criticises in the Congress. The party also said the unfolding situation in Delhi “resembled Panchayat,” where Manju Devi, played by Neena Gupta, is the elected sarpanch but her husband Brij Bhushan Dubey, played by Raghubir Yadav, actually handles all administrative work.
BJP Responds
The BJP has defended the meeting, saying no official rules were broken. As per reports, the BJP has said that the meeting was an internal party discussion and not official government business.
However, there has been no official comment from the CM's office.
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