By Krishika Dinesh Rathod
During the AAP’s ten-year administration, it was not uncommon to witness the dramatic images of veteran BJP politician Vijender Gupta being hauled out of the Delhi Assembly or marshalled. In a moment of poetic justice, Gupta has been appointed as the speaker, now that the roles have been reversed and the BJP is back in power after 27 years.
Interestingly, both the former Speakers Ram Niwas Goel and Arvind Kejriwal are no longer part of the Assembly. Previously hauled out, Vijender Gupta will now chair the House’s sessions. He won in 2015 and 2020 during the Kejriwal wave, when AAP swept Delhi with a massive majority.
Gupta, a member of the Baniya clan, defeated Pradeep Mittal of AAP by more than 37,000 votes to win the Rohini Assembly seat for the third time in a row. Vijender Gupta was born on August 14, 1963, and completed his studies at Shri Ram College of Commerce. He began his political career with the Janata Vidyarthi Morcha in 1980, and in 1995 he was the elected head of BJP’s youth wing.
In 1997, Gupta experienced an electoral victory for the first time when he was elected to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) council.
But in 2009, he lost to Congressman Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk. In the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections, Arvind Kejriwal beat him four years later.
Gupta, who once had a clout in the trader community, made a comeback by capturing the Rohini seat. He was the only BJP candidate who won that year. He is about to embark on a new political journey as Assembly Speaker after holding onto the position in 2020 and 2025. His rise from an opposition leader to Speaker underlines his adaptability and endurance in Delhi politics.
As Speaker, Gupta is expected to bring a new leadership style to the Delhi Assembly, leveraging his years of experience in opposition. His tenure will likely focus on maintaining legislative order, ensuring fair debates, and addressing key policy issues.