Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his congratulations to Rekha Gupta as she was sworn in as Delhi’s new Chief Minister, marking a historic moment for the BJP as it returns to power in the national capital after more than 26 years.
In a message following the swearing-in ceremony, PM Modi praised Gupta’s grassroots journey and expressed confidence in her ability to lead Delhi’s development.
“She has risen from the grassroots, being active in campus politics, state organization, municipal administration, and now as an MLA and Chief Minister. I am confident she will work for Delhi’s development with full vigour. My best wishes to her for a fruitful tenure,” the Prime Minister said.
Gupta, a first-time MLA, took the oath of office at a grand ceremony held at the iconic Ramlila Maidan, attended by PM Modi, several NDA Chief Ministers, and a massive crowd of over 30,000 supporters. Dressed in a red saree with a jacket, reminiscent of late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s signature style, Gupta was sworn in by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ from the enthusiastic gathering.
Alongside Gupta, six other BJP MLAs were also sworn in as Cabinet ministers, including Parvesh Verma, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra, Ashish Sood, Pankaj Kumar Singh, and Ravinder Indraj Singh. The event marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which last formed a government in Delhi in 1996.
At 50, Gupta becomes Delhi’s fourth woman Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of BJP’s Sushma Swaraj, Congress’s Sheila Dikshit, and AAP’s Atishi. Born in Jind, Haryana, and a lawyer by profession, Gupta hails from the Baniya community, a traditional voter base for the BJP.
Gupta’s political journey began with the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and she later became the president of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) in 1996-97. Her electoral career took off in 2007 when she was elected as a municipal councillor from Pitampura North, a position she held for three terms.
Despite setbacks in the 2015 and 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, Gupta’s political acumen earned her the role of national vice-president of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha. Her elevation to the Chief Minister’s post underscores the party’s faith in her leadership and her ability to connect with the people.
As Delhi’s new Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta faces the challenge of addressing the city’s pressing issues, including infrastructure, pollution, and housing, while fulfilling the BJP’s vision for the capital. With her grassroots experience and the support of the party, Gupta’s tenure is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Delhi’s governance.