Rekha Gupta Set to Become Delhi's Fourth Female Chief Minister, Vows to Elevate the City
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Synopsis
Rekha Gupta has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party, making her the new Chief Minister of Delhi. She expresses gratitude for the trust placed in her and promises to work diligently for the city's advancement.
Key Takeaways
- Rekha Gupta is the new Chief Minister of Delhi.
- She is the fourth woman to hold this position.
- Gupta is committed to the welfare of Delhi's residents.
- Major political figures will attend her swearing-in ceremony.
- The BJP aims to elevate the city's status under her leadership.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) Concluding the uncertainty surrounding the next Chief Minister of Delhi, first-time MLA Rekha Gupta was appointed as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Wednesday, setting the stage for her to assume the prestigious role during an elaborate ceremony scheduled for Thursday.
Gupta, aged 50 and representing Shalimar Bagh, was elected during a meeting at the BJP's state office at Pant Marg, overseen by two central observers: former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and BJP National Secretary Om Prakash Dhankhar.
As the meeting commenced to select the BJP legislative party leader, there was considerable speculation regarding the appointment of a female legislator. This speculation proved accurate with Gupta's election, marking her as the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi after Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Sheila Dikshit (Congress), and Atishi (AAP).
“Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Rekha Gupta on being elected as the leader of the Delhi BJP Legislative Party. We are confident that the state will flourish under your guidance,” stated the BJP Delhi unit in a post on its X handle.
Gupta, a professional advocate, expressed her gratitude towards the top BJP leadership for their trust in her.
“I sincerely thank the leadership for believing in me and granting me the role of Chief Minister. This trust has instilled a new vigor and motivation within me. I vow to work with complete honesty, commitment, and dedication for the betterment of the citizens of Delhi. I am fully devoted to the significant task of elevating Delhi to new heights,” Gupta shared in a post on X.
Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with outgoing Delhi CM Atishi, and other Chief Ministers including Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh and his counterparts from Haryana and Rajasthan, Nayab Singh Saini and Bhajanlal Sharma, as well as Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj and former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, were among the figures who congratulated the CM-designate.
“The party has assigned a significant responsibility. To achieve this, substantial strength and collaborative effort are necessary. Today is a day for celebration, and work will commence tomorrow,” her husband Manish Gupta remarked to IANS following the announcement.
Parvesh Verma, known for defeating former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, is expected to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister, although no formal confirmation has been made yet.
Veteran BJP leader Vijendra Gupta, who served as the Leader of the Opposition in the previous Assembly, is anticipated to be named the new Speaker.
Even prior to the official announcement, celebrations erupted at Gupta's residence, where she previously held positions as the Delhi University Students Union President, municipal councillor, and Mayor of the former SDMC.
After receiving the backing of BJP legislators, Gupta proceeded to Raj Niwas, where she met with Lt Governor V.K. Saxena to assert her claim to form the next government.
The new Chief Minister is scheduled to take the oath during a grand ceremony at the iconic Ramlila Maidan at noon the next day. The oath of office and secrecy will be administered by Lt Governor Saxena, in the presence of senior BJP leaders and representatives of allied parties. A diverse group, including auto drivers and slum dwellers, will also be present at the ceremony.
The oath-taking event is set to occur between 11 a.m. and 12.34 p.m., with the Chief Minister’s swearing-in at 12.05 p.m. Key political figures, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Lt Governor VK Saxena, will attend, along with over 200 BJP MPs and MLAs, as well as invited religious leaders.
The identity of the new Chief Minister remained a closely guarded secret until now, reportedly due to delays caused by the Prime Minister’s official visits to France and the United States.
After a period out of power since 1998, the BJP achieved a decisive victory in the 2025 Assembly elections, securing 48 seats in the 70-member Assembly and diminishing the AAP's presence to 22 seats.
