Women Leading the Charge: Delhi's Pioneering Female CMs

New Delhi, Feb 20 (NationPress) More than twenty years ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appointed Delhi's first female Chief Minister, Sushma Swaraj, marking a significant milestone. This event paved the way for Sheila Dikshit of the Congress, who governed the capital for three decades.

With Rekha Gupta set to take the oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, leadership transitions from another woman CM, Atishi from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Delhi stands out in the nation’s political arena for empowering women leaders to take charge of governance.

Only a handful of states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu, have seen women chief ministers. Thus, Rekha Gupta's appointment as Delhi's new Chief Minister is a pivotal moment in the country's recent political narrative.

Sushma Swaraj created history in 1998 by becoming the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi. Her tenure focused on strategic initiatives to enhance the party's image as Delhi's elections approached.

However, Sheila Dikshit holds the title of Delhi’s longest-serving female Chief Minister, having led the capital from 1998 to 2013.

In September 2024, Atishi of AAP was sworn in as Delhi’s third female Chief Minister after the unexpected resignation of Arvind Kejriwal.

Rekha Gupta, 50, the MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was selected during a BJP legislative party meeting at the state office on Pant Marg this evening, under the guidance of two central observers, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and BJP national Secretary Om Prakash Dhankhar.

Gupta, a qualified advocate, will be inaugurated at a significant ceremony at the iconic Ramlila Maidan today at noon. The Lt Governor Saxena will administer her oath of office and secrecy, with numerous notable BJP leaders and representatives from allied parties present. A diverse group of community members, including car drivers, auto drivers, and slum-dwellers, will attend the ceremony.

Born on July 19, 1974, in Nandgarh village, Jind district, Haryana, Gupta's father was a bank officer. The family relocated to Delhi in 1976 when Gupta was just two years old. She completed her education in Delhi, where her strong academic foundation shaped her political aspirations.

Gupta's political journey began during her student years. While attending Delhi University, she joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Her active participation in student politics led to her election as President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) for the 1996-1997 term. She also held the position of Secretary of Dyal Singh College and was heavily involved in student activism, propelling her further into public life.

Rekha Gupta’s political career with the BJP began in the early 2000s when she joined the youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), where she served as secretary in the Delhi unit. Her leadership qualities were quickly acknowledged, and she was appointed National Secretary of BJYM from 2004 to 2006. Her organizational skills and commitment to the party's agenda elevated her within the BJP.

In 2007, Gupta was elected as a councillor in the MCD elections, representing the North Pitampura constituency. She later served as President of the Women’s Welfare and Child Development Committee in MCD from 2007 to 2009 and held various other prominent roles, including General Secretary of the Delhi BJP Women’s Wing and National Executive Member of the party.