Rekha Gupta, the maiden MLA from the seat of Shalimar Bagh, has been named the next Chief Minister of Delhi by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This is the party’s revival after being out for more than 26 years.
She will be sworn-in tomorrow at the Ramlila Ground. Gupta secured the seat for the Assembly by defeating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Bandana Kumari by over 29,000 votes during the February 5 polls. She was appointed the CM during the BJP legislature party meeting, where all the 48 elected BJP MLAs and senior party leaders were present, including the centre observers O. P. Dhankar and Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Despite being a first-time MLA, Gupta has a strong political background. Her journey began with student politics at Delhi University. She has served three terms as a municipal councillor and previously held the position of mayor in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).
In a congratulatory message on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote in Hindi, “I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. @gupta_rekha ji on being elected the leader of the BJP Legislative Party. I have full faith that you will work with dedication in the direction of the resolution taken by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to make Delhi one of the top capitals of the world. I am confident that the BJP government under your leadership will work day and night to fulfill the hopes and expectations with which the mothers and sisters of Delhi have blessed the BJP.”
Following the BJP’s sweeping victory in the Assembly election, the party’s choice for the next CM became the subject of much speculations. The BJP’s campaign has also focused intensively on the women electorate, promising them Rs 2,500 each month for women, Rs 21,000 for pregnant women, and pensions for the elderly. These were set against the Rs 2,100 for women being promised by AAP.
Gupta now becomes the fourth female chief minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. She thanked the party for the appointment and stated that she will work for the city and its citizens “with honesty, integrity, and dedication.” Her immediate test will be navigating the BJP’s administration agenda for the city where the party has fared poorly historically during Assembly elections.
With the BJP being back in the saddle, all eyes will now turn towards the direction under which the city will be administered by Gupta for the next few years.
