By Aditi Bade
Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on February 20, 2025, thus ending 27 years of BJP estrangement from power in the capital. This momentous occasion was blessed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders, and Chief Ministers of NDA-run states.
Rekha Gupta was born in 1974 in the village of Nandgarh, Haryana and reached New Delhi in 1976 with her father, who was transferred to the newly opened State Bank of India. While in Daulat Ram College, the political journey really began, joining the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1992. Gupta showed leadership qualities and activism in the late 1990s, being the first woman president of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) in 1996. Gupta has held various senior positions in the Delhi unit of the BJP and is a member of the party’s National Executive. Through active membership in BJP Mahila Morcha, she is dedicated to women’s empowerment and social causes.
In 2022 Gupta was re-elected from Shalimar Bagh (B) ward to the municipal council, becoming the assembly candidate with one of the highest margins of victory ever and defeating her longest rival by more than 29,000 votes. Chief Minister Gupta expressed gratitude to the people of Delhi and to the leadership of the BJP for her appointment. She expressed the general view that there are serious hurdles, in particular air pollution, river pollution, and infrastructure development. This also formed the mainstay of the BJP election manifesto, which promised a campaign to build up schools in the government sector throughout Delhi, free health services to all, assured 24-hour electricity, and, most significantly, more than ₹2,500 per month stipulation for women below the poverty line in Delhi. The Gupta government is expected to provide protection to these promises and extend, at least in some measure, a new chapter in the lives of the people of Delhi.
At this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Gupta, expressing complete faith in her. He said that this appointment signifies a great deal as the BJP has begun to promote the really deserving women into leadership roles through governance.