Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday in a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan. Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, administered the oath of office to Gupta and her council of ministers.
Along with Gupta, six other ministers took their oaths, including Parvesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh.
The event was graced by BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister JP Nadda, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Several other prominent leaders, including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from neighboring states, were also present at the ceremony. Among the attendees were Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, and many others.
Rekha Gupta, who has served Delhi in various organizational roles and as a councillor, is well-acquainted with the issues facing the national capital. With a series of promises in the BJP’s election manifesto, she is expected to adopt a hands-on approach to her leadership.
Gupta, who is the fourth woman to serve as Delhi’s Chief Minister, succeeds leaders from the BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party in holding the post. A Shalimar Bagh MLA, Gupta has been an active figure in the BJP’s Mahila Morcha and national executive committee. She has been at the forefront of campaigns aimed at the welfare of marginalized communities and women.
Rekha Gupta’s political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student body affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Having earned her degree from Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College, she was elected President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) in 1996-97, where she was known for raising student issues. She later served as a councillor for North Pitampura in 2007, where she focused on improving community facilities such as parks and libraries.
At 50, Gupta was chosen as the Delhi CM despite being a first-time MLA, indicating the party’s desire for a woman leader. She is now the only woman among the BJP’s current Chief Ministers. Her appointment came after several days of speculation following the results of the Delhi assembly elections held on February 8, where the BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, ousting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Rekha Gupta’s rise is seen as a significant move by the BJP to emphasize its commitment to women’s empowerment. Following her election as the leader of the BJP legislature party, she expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, the BJP leadership, and the people of Delhi for entrusting her with such a crucial responsibility.
“It is a miracle, it is a new motivation, and a new chapter. If I can be the CM, it means doors are open for all women. Anyone who has been corrupt will have to answer for every rupee,” Gupta said, vowing to hold corrupt officials accountable.
Gupta also expressed her determination to fulfill the commitments made by her party. “My first priority is to deliver on every promise we made in our manifesto, and my second priority is to ensure our 48 MLAs work as a team, like Modi’s team,” she added. “I never thought I would be a CM of Delhi,” Gupta concluded.
Rekha Gupta was elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in a meeting with the newly-elected MLAs. The BJP’s victory in the Delhi elections marks a historic shift in the city’s leadership, with the party returning to power after a gap of 27 years.