“Saamana Spotlight: PM’s Lifestyle Scrutiny and Unwavering Support for Kejriwal Before Delhi Polls”

Former Chief Minister and Shivsena (UBT) Leader Uddhav Thackeray, along with AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal. File.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fierce critique of Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, the Shiv Sena(UBT) publication, Saamana, has extended its backing to the former Chief Minister of New Delhi and condemned the Prime Minister. 

On Monday (January 6, 2025), the editorial of Saamana strongly rebuked the PM’s address, offering support to Mr. Kejriwal and asserting that it is the PM who has constructed a palace for himself.

“Mr. Kejriwal’s expenditure of ₹1.5 crore on his official residence may attract criticism, but what about the residences of other Central Ministers who have indulged in lavish decorations of their government accommodations? In Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde as a Chief Minister had three government residences; even after stepping down, he still retains two of them. When Devendra Fadnavis was Deputy CM, he likewise had two bungalows. This opulence surpasses the sheesh mahal claims against Mr. Kejriwal, who is also alleged to have luxurious gold chest drawers,” the editorial of Saamana noted. 

In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly Elections, Mr. Modi, during a rally on Sunday, labeled the party “AAP-DA” or a “calamity” that has afflicted the capital for a decade. 

“Over the past 10 years, the governance that Delhi has experienced is nothing short of AAP-DA [calamity], and now we can only hear AAP-DA nahi sahenge, badal ke rahenge [we will not tolerate calamity, will bring change] in Delhi,” PM Modi remarked, criticizing Mr. Kejriwal for allegedly constructing a glass palace for himself, referring to the controversies involving claimed mismanagement in the refurbishment of the CM’s official residence. 

In response to Saamana’s commentary, Maharashtra BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule lambasted Shiv Sena(UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray for publishing such an editorial, stating, “PM Narendra Modi rose from a modest beginning as a tea stall vendor. He ascended to the position of PM through diligence, commitment, and overcoming numerous significant challenges. Uddhav Thackeray cannot be compared to PM Modi, as the latter has devoted his life to serving the 140 crore citizens of India.” 

Mr. Bawankule, addressing journalists in Nagpur, further noted that Mr. Thackeray did not visit Mantralaya or Vidhan Bhavan for even two days during his tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra and should reflect upon his stance before issuing any strong statements against the PM in favor of Mr. Kejriwal. 

The editorial also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who on Saturday accused Kejriwal of neglecting the populace of Delhi by failing to address development and infrastructure for a decade, instead prioritizing the construction of a sheesh mahal on a 50,000 square yards site at a cost of ₹45 crore. 

“Mr. Shah critiques Mr. Kejriwal for residing in a 50,000 square feet bungalow, yet Mr. Modi occupies such a vast bungalow, aggregating the space of eight government residences, sprawling over thousands of square metres. Under the Central Vista project, a distinct ‘palace’ for the PM is being established, amounting to an expenditure of around ₹400 crore from the public funds. When Indira Gandhi was the PM, she resided in a very modest and cozy home. Was it truly necessary to build a new PM residence when the PM couldn’t even spare two years of land for the funeral of former PM Manmohan Singh?”

The editorial went on to censure Mr. Modi, stating that the PM invested ₹15,000 crore in an aircraft for his global travels, whereas previous Prime Ministers in India routinely flew on standard Air India flights. “How can an individual proclaim to be ‘fakir’ while spending ₹10 to 15 lakhs on a single suit, donning branded eyewear, clothing, watches, and footwear? Because of his extravagant lifestyle, the citizens of India are burdened with substantial taxes. While the PM enjoys his opulent lifestyle, in 2023-24, 37 lakh children abandoned their education.”