New Delhi, Dec 27 (NationPress) This year will be remembered in the history of Delhi's political landscape as a significant moment for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which reclaimed power after a 27-year political hiatus. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA, has emerged as a prominent figure. In her first 10 months in office, the city’s fourth female CM has diligently worked to fulfill electoral commitments across various sectors, including the Ayushman health insurance scheme, Arogya Mandirs, legislation to regulate school fee increases, the deployment of new e-buses, complimentary bus rides for women, and the establishment of Atal Canteens for affordable meals.

Notably, Union Ministers were visibly present at all key events and announcements pertaining to urban development projects, whether it involved housing for slum residents, the Ayushman Yojana, or enhancements to the Delhi Metro, introduction of e-buses, piped cooking gas for rural areas, Atal canteens, and initiatives to combat pollution.

This seemed to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy to engage with Delhi's residents—a promise made during the Assembly election campaign—through his team of Union Ministers.

Chhath Puja

CM Gupta also won the hearts of the Poorvanchali community with unforgettable celebrations of Chhath Puja along the banks of the Yamuna. However, ongoing issues such as the Yamuna's pollution, air quality deterioration, and waterlogging posed challenges to her administrative capabilities under the scrutiny of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, who are currently out of power.

Additionally, the Chief Minister made commendable choices to engage youth by reinstating special buses for Delhi University, which had been discontinued nearly five years ago, and organizing an Industrial Ideathon to foster technological innovation among young minds. For young athletes, she announced an increase in official rewards for medalists in international sports competitions.

Mahila Samridhi Yojana

The promise of providing Rs 2,500 monthly financial support to women appears to have been deferred to 2026—yet remains within the current fiscal year. Anticipation surrounds the next International Women’s Day on March 8, 2026, as PM Modi had assured during the campaign that women would receive this financial aid on that date.

Some BJP officials believe that if the Mahila Samridhi Yojana (MSY) funds begin reaching the accounts of Delhi's women in March, it could enhance the BJP’s electoral prospects in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections slated for April-May.

The AAP currently governs Punjab and is facing challenges in fulfilling its pledge to provide Rs 1,000 to women there. In this context, the BJP may wish to highlight its successful implementation of the MSY in Delhi under CM Rekha Gupta, remarked a party official.

The Delhi government allocated Rs 5,100 crore for the MSY in its 2025-26 Budget. In addition to this commitment, the government plans to install 50,000 CCTV cameras for women’s safety and provide Rs 21,000 for expectant mothers.

Pollution Challenge

While the Gupta administration initiated measures to cleanse the Yamuna, efforts to address air quality issues fell short as the city experienced severe air pollution for several days this winter. The ambitious attempt to induce artificial rain with the assistance of IIT-Kanpur experts generated excitement, though it did not achieve the desired results.

Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena encouraged CM Gupta to persist in combating pollution—including a vehicle pollution check certificate initiative—and criticized former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for downplaying the pollution crisis. He also called out the AAP leader in a letter, recalling their 2022 discussion in which Kejriwal exhibited little concern for tackling the issue during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Administrative Reforms

With CM Gupta's inauguration, the tradition of weekly Cabinet meetings was restored at Player’s Building, the riverside secretariat of the Delhi government, a practice the AAP had abandoned. The city also welcomed a new Chief Secretary, Rajeev Verma, and a new Police Commissioner, Satish Golcha, revitalizing the welfare delivery and security frameworks.

The Chief Minister reorganized Delhi’s 11 districts into 13 new administrative units to enhance governance efficiency. She also announced the establishment of modern, multi-departmental ‘Mini Secretariats’ across all 13 districts, allowing citizens to access multiple services—from Revenue Offices to Sub-Registrar Offices—at one location.

By relaxing age and educational qualifications, CM Gupta delivered government job letters to survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and their families. This gesture aimed to provide some closure to the pain and suffering endured by victims and their loved ones for four decades.

MCD By-elections

The BJP's electoral triumph in the February Assembly elections manifested in its performance during the MCD by-elections as well. Chief Minister Gupta’s popularity helped the party secure 7 out of 12 wards. She previously served as an MCD councillor before being nominated as a candidate from the Shalimar Bagh Assembly seat.

While the BJP dominated civic polls, opposition parties, particularly the Congress, garnered essential political momentum by winning a few seats. The Congress claimed victory in just one ward, marking a return to electoral relevance after a prolonged absence. The AAP managed to secure three wards, alongside other parties winning one.

Worst Terror Attack in a Decade

The November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort, resulting in 11 fatalities, marked the first significant terrorist attack in the Capital since the 2011 explosion near the Delhi High Court. Despite this horrific incident, security forces, led by the NIA, successfully thwarted a larger plot to execute serial bombings by a group of highly skilled terrorists, primarily professionals. During an Anti-Terror Conference, Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended the investigators for exposing this larger conspiracy.

Assembly Goes Paperless

Throughout the year, Delhi MLAs embraced technological advancements in legislative operations, receiving new tablets as the Assembly transitioned to a paperless format under Speaker Vijender Gupta. With assistance from the Union Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, Gupta oversaw the implementation of NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application), transforming the Assembly into a fully digital and paperless institution.

He also initiated efforts to convert the Assembly into a completely solar-powered green legislature and initiated plans to develop the Delhi Legislative Assembly into a Heritage Site.

As a seasoned legislator, Gupta championed initiatives such as the full operationalization of the Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) within the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, positioning Delhi as potentially the first State Assembly in the country to implement a comprehensive real-time audit monitoring portal.

The Year Ahead

The BJP secured power in Delhi by winning 48 seats in the 70-member Assembly. Upon taking office, CM Gupta pledged to prioritize the needs of women, the impoverished, and the middle class. Her administration has concentrated on enhancing administrative transparency, scrutinizing pending projects, and investigating corruption allegations, but much work remains to fulfill the vision of “Viksit Delhi@2047.”

As the Chief Minister readies to guide the city into another dynamic year filled with ambitious EV policy initiatives aimed at improving air quality, Rekha Gupta has also learned valuable lessons during her first ten months in office.

She faced an attempt on her life at a camp office and dealt with personal attacks and memes on social media, particularly from AAP supporters. The three-time councillor also encountered challenges when her opponents criticized her husband's presence at some official engagements. On balance, CM Gupta has strived to serve the populace and effectively counter political rivals at every opportunity.

PM Modi’s commitment to personally assist Delhiites and the Yamuna offers hope for citizens anticipating enhanced civic and welfare services and a significant reduction in pollution by 2026.