BJP leader Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday at a grand ceremony held at Ramlila Maidan, marking a historic moment as the second woman Chief Minister from the BJP in Delhi. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena administered the oath of office to Gupta and her council of ministers.
The event witnessed the presence of top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Leaders from other states, such as Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, also attended.
First Cabinet Meeting: Key Decisions
Within hours of assuming office, CM Rekha Gupta chaired her first cabinet meeting, announcing:
✅ Implementation of Ayushman Bharat Scheme with an additional ₹5 lakh top-up funded by the Delhi government.
✅ Tabling of 14 pending CAG reports in the first sitting of the Assembly.
“We will fulfill all the commitments made to the people,” Gupta stated during a press conference.
She emphasized that the Delhi government will sign an MoU with the Centre to implement the health scheme.
Women’s Welfare Promise Under Spotlight
Responding to AAP leader Atishi’s remarks on the BJP’s poll promise of ₹2,500 monthly aid to women, Gupta said:
“It’s our government; the agenda will be ours. Let us work. She doesn’t need to tell us everything.”
Atishi had earlier urged the BJP to fulfill its promise and release the first instalment by March 8 (International Women’s Day).
Yamuna Cleaning a Top Priority
Gupta and her cabinet attended an evening aarti at the Yamuna riverbank, reaffirming the government’s commitment to cleaning the polluted river:
“Today, during the aarti of Maa Yamuna, we recalled our resolution to clean the river. It will be our priority,” said Gupta.
Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva added that cleaning the Yamuna was a key election promise.
Delhi Cabinet Portfolios Announced
The newly appointed ministers and their portfolios:
- Rekha Gupta: General Administration, Finance, Women & Child Development, Vigilance, Planning, Revenue, and more
- Pravesh Verma: PWD, Irrigation, Water, Legislative Affairs
- Ashish Sood: Home, Education, Power, Urban Development
- Manjinder Singh Sirsa: Food & Supplies, Environment, Industries
- Ravinder Singh (Indraj): Social Welfare, SC/ST Welfare, Elections
- Kapil Mishra: Law & Justice, Labour, Art & Culture, Tourism
- Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh: Health, Transport, IT
Election Recap:
🔹 BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, achieving a historic mandate.
🔹 Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was elected BJP Legislature Party leader on Wednesday.
What’s Next?
The BJP-led Delhi government is set to:
✅ Launch the Ayushman Bharat scheme with enhanced coverage.
✅ Prioritize women’s welfare programs and address pending financial aid promises.
✅ Clean the Yamuna River, a major poll issue.
✅ Enhance transparency by tabling long-pending CAG reports.
With a strong mandate, CM Rekha Gupta aims to deliver on BJP’s manifesto promises and reshape Delhi’s governance.