Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, breaking the three-decade-long political deadlock for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the national capital. The grand oath-taking ceremony was held at the historic Ramlila Maidan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top BJP leaders in attendance.
This marks the BJP’s comeback in Delhi after a 27-year hiatus, ending the 10-year rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party secured a decisive victory in the February 5 Assembly elections, winning 48 out of 70 seats.
Rekha Gupta’s Selection: A Strategic Move
Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, emerged as the party’s choice over several senior leaders. Party insiders cited three crucial factors behind her selection—her gender, her association with the influential Baniya community, and her strong grassroots presence.
With this appointment, she becomes Delhi’s second woman Chief Minister after Sushma Swaraj’s short tenure in 1998 and is the only woman among the 13 BJP-led state governments.
Women in Leadership: A Strong Message from BJP
The BJP’s decision to appoint a woman leader for Delhi signals a strong outreach to its women voter base. Rekha Gupta’s appointment follows the party’s tradition of supporting female leadership in Delhi, continuing the legacy of late Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, who served as CM for three terms.
With AAP’s Atishi expected to be the Leader of Opposition, Delhi politics will now witness a direct contest between two women leaders.
Gupta has already assured that one of her government’s key promises—providing ₹2,500 per month as financial assistance to women—will be implemented soon, with the first installment reaching beneficiaries by March 8.
RSS Influence and ABVP Roots
Rekha Gupta’s rise in the BJP is closely linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). She joins a growing list of BJP leaders with ABVP backgrounds, including Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Dharmendra Pradhan.
Her appointment reinforces the influence of RSS-backed leadership within the party, with Gupta being seen as a disciplined and ideologically aligned leader.
Caste Dynamics in Cabinet Formation
The BJP has strategically balanced caste representation in the Delhi cabinet. Gupta, who belongs to the Baniya community, shares the same caste as her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, a factor expected to strengthen BJP’s outreach to this voter base.
Alongside Gupta, six ministers took the oath, representing various communities:
• Pravesh Verma (Jat)
• Manjinder Sirsa (Sikh)
• Ashish Sood (Punjabi)
• Pankaj Kumar Singh (Purvanchali)
• Ravinder Singh Indraj (Dalit)
• Kapil Mishra (Purvanchali and Brahmin)
This carefully crafted social representation aims to consolidate BJP’s support across different voter segments in Delhi.
Challenges Ahead: Governance and Fiscal Management
Gupta, who previously served as a councillor and Mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), is expected to tackle pressing civic issues such as water supply, pollution, road congestion, and waste management.
One of her immediate challenges will be the cleanup of the Yamuna River, a long-pending issue that contributed to the anti-incumbency against AAP.
Additionally, she faces the task of managing Delhi’s growing subsidy burden. The capital’s subsidy bill has surged from ₹1,554.72 crore in 2014-15 to ₹10,995.34 crore in the current fiscal year. Implementing BJP’s welfare promises, including increased pensions for senior citizens and differently-abled individuals, will require careful financial planning.
Path Forward
With strong backing from the BJP high command and RSS, Rekha Gupta steps into a pivotal role in Delhi’s governance. Her tenure will be closely watched as she navigates challenges, delivers on BJP’s promises, and strengthens the party’s foothold in the capital.
