New Delhi: BJP’s debutant legislator Rekha Gupta was sworn in as Delhi chief minister on Thursday in a grand show of strength that marks the party’s return to power in the city after more than 26 years.
The ceremony at the historic Ramlila Ground was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top BJP brass and NDA chief ministers. Gupta is Delhi’s fourth woman chief minister. The 50-year-old MLA from Shalimar Bagh is also the only woman in the NDA team of chief ministers.
With this, Delhi gets its fourth woman Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of BJP’s Sushma Swaraj, Congress’ Sheila Dikshit, and AAP’s Atishi. Gupta also becomes the fourth BJP Chief Minister of Delhi after Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj.
BJP leaders Parvesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Pankaj Kumar Singh, and Kapil Mishra were also sworn in as ministers in the new Council of Ministers led by Gupta.
The ceremony was attended by senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda, along with Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers from other BJP-ruled states.
A notification from the Union Home Ministry stated that the President, on the advice of Chief Minister-designate Rekha Gupta, appointed the six BJP MLAs as ministers in the Delhi government. The new Council of Ministers headed by Gupta is likely to hold its first meeting at the Delhi Secretariat around 3 pm.
Rekha Gupta, 50, was chosen as Leader of the House in the newly constituted 8th Delhi Assembly during a BJP legislature party meeting held on Wednesday. She was invited by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to form the new government after staking her claim at Raj Niwas.
A first-time MLA from the Shalimar Bagh constituency, Gupta defeated AAP candidate Bandana Kumari by over 29,000 votes in the Delhi Assembly polls. Having risen through the ranks of the BJP, she shares close ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is known for her grassroots connect. Gupta is a former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president and has served as a civic body councillor, showcasing her leadership journey.
The BJP’s victory in Delhi marks a return to power after 26 years, ending the decade-long rule of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party secured a decisive win, bagging 48 out of 70 seats in the Assembly polls held on February 5.
