Rekha Gupta, a former student leader and municipal councillor, has been named the new Chief Minister of Delhi, marking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) return to power in the capital after 27 years. Gupta’s appointment, which surprised both political analysts and party insiders, was confirmed following the BJP’s decisive victory in the state assembly elections, where it won 48 out of 70 seats, unseating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Gupta, who won her first-ever legislative contest from the Shalimar Bagh constituency with a margin of 29,595 votes, is set to be sworn in as Chief Minister on February 20. Speaking to the media, she called her elevation a “miracle” and a “new motivation” for women in politics. “If I can be CM, it means ways are open for all women,” she told news agency ANI.
The BJP’s manifesto for Delhi focused on key urban issues such as air and river pollution, infrastructure development, and public welfare. Gupta has pledged to fulfill these promises, emphasizing that her administration will work towards improving public schools, offering free healthcare and electricity, and providing a ₹2,500 ($29) monthly stipend to underprivileged women.
Gupta’s appointment was unexpected, as political observers had widely anticipated BJP MP Parvesh Verma—son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma—to take the role. However, her extensive political experience, including serving as a student leader at Delhi University and holding key roles in the BJP’s women’s wing, helped her secure the position. The BJP’s opposition to dynastic politics may have also influenced the decision to bypass Verma.
Born in Haryana’s Jind district, Gupta moved to Delhi at the age of two. She began her political career in 1993 at Daulat Ram College, where she joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). She later became the general secretary and president of the Delhi University Students’ Union before moving on to municipal politics, where she served in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council.
Gupta will be Delhi’s fourth woman Chief Minister and the only other female leader of an Indian state alongside West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee. However, her appointment has not been without controversy. Following the announcement, an old video resurfaced on social media appearing to show her involved in vandalism at a municipal office, drawing criticism from opposition figures and online users.
Despite this, Gupta remains focused on her new role, vowing to tackle corruption and ensure accountability. “Anyone who has been corrupt will have to give an account of every rupee,” she asserted, setting the tone for her tenure as Delhi’s Chief Minister.
