The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi of replacing portraits of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh with those of Mahatma Gandhi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Chief Minister’s office. In response, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta dismissed the allegations, calling them an attempt by AAP to divert attention from its “corruption and misdeeds.”

AAP leader Atishi shared images on social media, showing the office with Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh’s portraits during AAP’s tenure, followed by a new set of pictures displaying Mahatma Gandhi, President Murmu, and PM Modi’s images with CM Gupta in office.

"The BJP’s anti-Dalit stance is well known. Today, it has been clearly demonstrated," Atishi claimed at a press conference. She added that under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership, Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh’s portraits were displayed in every Delhi government office, but the new BJP-led administration had removed them from the CM’s office.

Echoing her sentiments, former CM Kejriwal stated that the move had deeply hurt the sentiments of Ambedkar’s followers. "Replacing Babasaheb’s photo with that of PM Modi is unfair. This has pained millions of his supporters. I urge the BJP to retain Babasaheb’s image alongside the Prime Minister’s," he tweeted.

However, CM Gupta dismissed these allegations, questioning why putting up official portraits should be an issue. “Shouldn’t the head of the government, the country’s President, and the Father of the Nation be honored in the CM’s office? Babasaheb and Bhagat Singh are respected figures and continue to hold their place," she told ANI, adding that her priority was to serve the people, not engage in political arguments.

A video of her office showed the new portraits behind her seat, while the earlier ones of Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh were placed on different walls.

The controversy erupted as the Delhi Assembly commenced its first session under BJP rule following its electoral victory on February 5, ending AAP’s decade-long governance. During the three-day session, pending CAG reports on the AAP government’s performance are set to be presented.

BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely countered AAP’s allegations, suggesting they were an attempt to shift focus from the upcoming CAG reports. “They are trying to stir chaos because they fear the CAG findings. Why didn’t they retain Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait when they came to power?” he asked.

The ongoing political row underscores the heightened tensions between the two parties as the BJP reasserts control over Delhi’s governance after 27 years.