- Friday, February 21, 2025
The 50-year-old first-time MLA entered politics as an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member in 1992, and was the Mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation
By: India Weekly
SHALIMAR BAGH MLA Rekha Gupta will be the new chief minister of Delhi, the BJP announced on Wednesday (19).
The 50-year-old first-time MLA was chosen as the Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly at the BJP legislature party meeting, which was attended by the 48 newly-elected BJP MLAs.
The party has returned to power in Delhi after over 26 years.
Rekha and her Cabinet ministers will take the oath of office at the Ramlila maidan on Thursday (20).
The CM-designate met Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena at Raj Niwas on Wednesday evening to stake a claim in forming a BJP-led government in Delhi.
She will be the fourth woman chief minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit and Atishi.
Who is Rekha Gupta?
Rekha Gupta is a seasoned BJP leader who has been active in politics from her student days.
Currently she is the General Secretary of Delhi BJP.
She contested February 5 assembly election from Shalimar Bagh and secured securing 68,200 votes. She defeated AAP candidate Bandna Kumari by over 29,000 votes.
Political observers say her long-standing association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a key role in securing her the chief minister post. The law graduate of Delhi University entered politics as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS’ student wing, in 1992.
Rekha later became president of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) from 1996 to 1997.
She later turned to municipal politics, winning the Delhi Councillor elections from Uttari Pitampura (Ward 54) in 2007 and successfully securing re-election in 2012.
Rekha had earlier served as the Mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Gupta is also the national vice president of BJP Mahila Morcha and a member of the party’s national executive.
Thanks PM
Soon after the announcement, Rekha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said she would work with full honesty, integrity and dedication for the welfare, empowerment and overall development of every citizen of Delhi.
“I am fully committed to this important opportunity to take Delhi to new heights,” Gupta said in a post on X.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the top leadership for trusting me and entrusting me with the responsibility of the post of chief minister. This trust and support of yours has given me new energy and inspiration.”
Other appointees
New Delhi MLA Parvesh Verma, who defeated Arvind Kejriwal, is set to become the Deputy CM, and Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta was appointed as speaker of the Delhi Assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new chief minister is scheduled for February 20 at Ramlila Maidan.
Apart from prime minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh, popular BJP MPs as well as top NDA leaders are also expected to attend the event.
