Rekha Gupta Is BJP's Pick For Delhi Chief Minister, 4th Woman CM For The National Capital

After days of intense speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership has named Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. The announcement, made through the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Delhi BJP on Wednesday, marks a historic moment for the national capital. Gupta, a first-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Shalimar Bagh, will become the fourth woman to hold the top political office in Delhi after Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Sheila Dikshit (Congress), and Atishi (Aam Aadmi Party).
This move comes after a gap of 27 years, as the BJP prepares to lead the government in Delhi once again. The last time the BJP held power in Delhi was in 1998, when Sushma Swaraj briefly served as Chief Minister. Gupta’s elevation has been described as a significant shift in Delhi’s political landscape, with many party insiders surprised by the choice.

Gupta thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership for entrusting her with this responsibility, expressing her commitment to leading Delhi to greater heights.
"I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our party's top leadership, and the people of Delhi for giving me this opportunity. This is a moment of pride for women across the country. I am fully committed to taking Delhi to greater heights. We will work with honesty and integrity. We will work together as Team Modi," Gupta said in her first public statement following the announcement.

Political Background
Rekha Gupta’s political journey has been one of steady progression. Born in Haryana’s Hind district in 1974, she became active in politics during her time at Daulat Ram College, where she joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP’s student wing. In 1996, she made her mark by being elected President of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), marking the beginning of her political career.

She has since served as a three-time councillor at the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) and was the General Secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Delhi. Gupta has also been a member of the BJP’s National Executive Committee, contributing to the party’s growth at both the state and national levels. Her victory in the Shalimar Bagh constituency, where she won by a margin of 29,000 votes, solidified her political standing.

Forming the Government

Following her election as leader of the Delhi BJP Legislative Party, Gupta, along with fellow party legislators, met with Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to formally stake their claim to form the government. The swearing-in ceremony for Rekha Gupta will take place at Ram Lila Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday at noon, marking the beginning of her tenure.
The Delhi BJP's announcement was brief but laden with optimism. “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Rekha Gupta ji on being elected the leader of the Delhi BJP Legislative Party. We have full faith that the state will progress under your leadership,” read the translation of their post in Hindi.

A Look Back at Delhi’s Leadership

Rekha Gupta’s rise to power brings to mind the previous women who held the Chief Minister’s office in Delhi. Sushma Swaraj, the BJP stalwart, was the last woman to serve in this role, though her tenure lasted only 52 days in 1998. She was succeeded by Sheila Dikshit, whose tenure as Chief Minister from 1998 to 2013 remains the longest in Delhi’s history. More recently, Atishi, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), briefly held the position of Delhi’s Chief Minister during the Delhi Assembly’s 2020 elections.​