New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday held a large protest in Sultanpuri after government officials reportedly attempted to vacate the official office of local MLA Mukesh Ahlawat. The party described the move as a politically driven effort by the BJP-led administration to impede the work of its legislators and disrupt services in the area.
The demonstration drew hundreds of party workers who gathered outside the MLA’s office in response to a call from AAP’s Delhi state president, Saurabh Bharadwaj. Addressing supporters, Bharadwaj alleged that the ruling BJP government was engaged in a systematic campaign to harass AAP’s elected representatives. He said the party stood united in support of its MLAs and would resist actions it views as unfair or politically motivated.
The conflict centres on an eviction notice issued for Ahlawat’s office. According to the MLA, the premises were officially allotted to him on June 25 for a five-year term. Ahlawat said he was served an eviction notice on November 13, although the document was dated November 7. He argued that this timeline failed to meet the mandatory 15-day notice period required for such actions.
Ahlawat explained that even if the administration counted the notice period from the date it was issued, the deadline would fall on November 22. If counted from the day he received it, the deadline would extend to November 28. He questioned why officials appeared at his office before either date and, more importantly, a day ahead of his court hearing. He noted that he had filed a legal challenge on November 14, with the matter listed for hearing on November 20.
The MLA accused the authorities of selectively targeting him. He pointed out that two other government buildings in his sector contain a combined 38 vacant rooms, yet his office was singled out for eviction. According to Ahlawat, the action appears designed to disrupt public services in Sultanpuri, an area he said is home to many residents from poor and Dalit communities who rely heavily on the MLA office for assistance.
Ahlawat also alleged broader discrimination against AAP legislators. He claimed proposals submitted by AAP MLAs were not being approved, while those put forward by BJP MLAs were being cleared without delay. The MLA further said that work on 24 hospitals sanctioned during the previous Kejriwal administration had been stopped, which he argued was now contributing to a healthcare crisis across the city.
Party leaders described Wednesday’s protest as an attempt to highlight what they see as a pattern of administrative pressure on opposition MLAs. They alleged that such pressure was being used to curb development work and weaken elected representatives in constituencies where AAP has strong support.
During the protest, AAP members expressed concerns that the eviction move could hinder government-related tasks carried out at the MLA’s office. Residents at the scene echoed these worries, saying the office functions as an important point of contact for local grievances and welfare-related services.
The dispute has intensified political tensions in the Capital, with both parties trading accusations over administrative fairness and governance priorities. AAP maintains that the eviction notice, its timing, and the manner in which officials attempted to act on it all indicate deliberate provocation. The BJP-led government, however, has not publicly commented on the MLA’s allegations.
As the matter now moves to court, Ahlawat said he hopes legal scrutiny will clarify the legitimacy of the eviction process. Meanwhile, the party has vowed to continue raising the issue, arguing that actions of this nature undermine public service delivery and unfairly target elected representatives performing constituency duties.
