New Delhi [India], February 20: Rekha Gupta, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. Expressing gratitude to the people of the national capital, she thanked them for placing their trust in her leadership. “Thank you Delhi,” she told.
Gupta also extended her thanks to the BJP for choosing her to lead the city. “I thank BJP, and I am grateful for the blessings of all of you,” she added.
Multiple party leaders have praised Gupta’s appointment, highlighting her potential to bring development to the national capital. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj expressed confidence that Delhi would see significant progress under Gupta’s leadership, especially with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. “There will be a lot of development in Delhi after BJP leader Rekha Gupta takes oath as the CM of Delhi. She will write a new chapter of development under the leadership of PM Modi…It is a very emotional day, and my mother, Sushma Swaraj, is surely blessing Rekha Gupta,” Swaraj remarked.
Union Minister Anupriya Patel also thanked PM Modi for offering a woman the opportunity to govern Delhi. “I thank PM Modi for giving an opportunity to a woman to govern Delhi…I am hopeful that she will ensure the development of Delhi…PM Modi always talks about women-led development,” Patel said.
Congress leader Alka Lamba wished Gupta well and expressed hope that the new CM would focus on the safety of women in the city. “My greetings to the new Delhi CM Rekha Gupta… I went into nostalgia when her name was announced… We always had an ideological battle with her… The safety of our daughters is the main concern in Delhi; I hope she works on that… We will support her if she works in that direction,” Lamba stated.
Rekha Gupta, an elected MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has served as the general secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha in Delhi and as a member of its national executive committee. In these roles, she initiated several campaigns for the welfare of marginalized communities and women. Gupta has a background in student leadership, having served as the President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) in 1996-97. She was also a councillor from North Pitampura in 2007, where she worked on improving local infrastructure, such as libraries and parks. Gupta, a first-time MLA at the age of 50, was chosen over more senior BJP leaders in Delhi, as the party aimed to appoint a woman leader for the role of CM.
The BJP is forming the government in Delhi after 27 years, securing 48 out of 70 seats in the recent assembly elections. In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won only 22 seats, and Congress failed to secure any.