February 25, 2025, the Delhi Legislative Assembly witnessed significant upheaval as Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 12 members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including prominent leaders Atishi and Gopal Rai. This action was taken in response to the MLAs’ vocal protests during Lieutenant Governor (L-G) VK Saxena’s address, where they raised slogans alleging the removal of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s portrait from the Chief Minister’s office. The suspended legislators also included Veer Singh Dhingan, Mukesh Ahlawat, Chaudhary Zubair Ahmed, Anil Jha, Vishesh Ravi, and Jarnail Singh.
The controversy began when Atishi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration of disrespecting Dr. Ambedkar by replacing his portrait with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Chief Minister’s office at both the Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly. Addressing the media, Atishi stated, “The BJP has shown its true colours by removing Babasaheb Ambedkar’s portrait. Does it believe Modi can replace Babasaheb?”
In response, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta refuted these claims, asserting that the portraits of national icons, including Dr. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, remained in their rightful places within the office. She emphasized that the inclusion of the Prime Minister’s portrait alongside other national leaders was appropriate, given the office’s significance. Gupta remarked, “Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb are respectable personalities of the country, revered, and our guide.”
The day’s events were further intensified by the tabling of 14 reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the Assembly. These reports, scrutinizing the financial activities of the previous AAP government, had been a point of contention. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva alleged that the AAP had deliberately withheld these reports to avoid public scrutiny of financial mismanagement. He stated, “The CAG report is a list of the black deeds of the AAP.”
The BJP’s demand for transparency led to calls for a special Assembly session dedicated solely to discussing these reports. Leader of the Opposition, Vijender Gupta, emphasized the necessity of this session, stating that the public deserved clarity on how funds were utilized during the AAP’s tenure. He accused the AAP government of attempting to suppress these reports to conceal instances of corruption.
In defense, Atishi contended that the reports had been forwarded to the Assembly Speaker prior to the elections, accusing the BJP of spreading misconceptions. She maintained that the AAP was committed to transparency and had no intention of withholding information from the public. Atishi stated, “As chief minister, I had sent the CAG reports to the speaker of the Delhi assembly before the elections in a sealed envelope.”
The Lieutenant Governor’s office also played a role in this unfolding drama. L-G VK Saxena had previously written to Chief Minister Atishi, expressing concern over the delay in tabling the CAG reports. He emphasized the constitutional obligation to present these reports to ensure governmental accountability. Saxena noted, “It is unfortunate that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has consciously chosen not to adhere to this Constitutional norm.”
The suspension of the AAP MLAs and the subsequent debates highlight the escalating tensions between the AAP and BJP within the Delhi Assembly. As the BJP-led government moves forward with the presentation of the CAG reports, the political landscape in Delhi remains charged, with both parties poised for further confrontations in the legislative arena.
