New Delhi: A major political controversy has erupted in the national capital after the Delhi government disclosed that it spent ₹12.97 crore on advertisements over a nine-month period, between April 2025 and December 2025. The figures were officially placed on record in the Delhi Assembly in response to a question raised by AAP MLA Prem Kumar Chauhan.
The disclosure has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, which has accused the government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta of misusing public funds for political promotion, despite projecting itself as a model of financial prudence and efficient governance.
Break-up of Advertisement Expenditure
According to the details shared in the Assembly, the government’s total advertisement spending stood at ₹12,97,00,000, with a significant portion allocated to branding and publicity campaigns featuring the Chief Minister.
- Chief Minister’s branding and photo-centric advertisements:
Nearly ₹6.90 crore was spent on campaigns that prominently carried the Chief Minister’s image or personal branding. - Medium-wise expenditure details:
- Print media: Over ₹10.05 crore, accounting for the largest share
- Electronic media (TV and news channels): ₹1.61 crore
- Digital media (websites and social platforms): ₹52.28 lakh
- Outdoor advertising (hoardings, bus shelters, metro panels): ₹75,100
- Radio advertisements: ₹33,000
Budgetary Concerns Raised
The opposition has also flagged that no separate budgetary approval was taken from the Finance Department for this expenditure. Instead, the amount was reportedly drawn from the existing departmental budget, raising questions over fiscal transparency and financial prioritisation.
Adding to the controversy, opposition members claimed that nearly ₹3 crore worth of advertisements were published in states outside Delhi, arguing that such spending had little relevance to the city’s residents and amounted to wastage of taxpayers’ money.
Political Reactions
The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that funds meant for development—such as schools, hospitals, and civic infrastructure—were diverted towards political advertising. Party leaders pointed out that the same Chief Minister had earlier criticised previous governments for excessive publicity spending.
With the issue now officially on the Assembly record, the Rekha Gupta government is expected to face sustained political pressure to justify the scale, intent, and necessity of the advertisement expenditure.
What Lies Ahead
The revelation has intensified the debate on the use of public money for government publicity. As political sparring escalates, questions over accountability, transparency, and governance priorities are likely to dominate Delhi’s political discourse in the coming weeks.
