Rekha Gupta was announced by the BJP as the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following an intense two-week suspense. At 50, she is a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, winning a recent election by over 29,000 votes against AAP’s Bandna Kumari. Gupta previously lost to Kumari in the 2015 and 2020 elections. Born in Haryana and active in student politics, Gupta served as President of the Delhi University Students’ Union and held various roles within the BJP. She will be sworn in at a ceremony at Ramlila Maidan and pledges to work for the welfare of all Delhi citizens.
Rekha Gupta, who previously served as president of the Delhi University Students’ Union, has been named the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi, the BJP announced on Wednesday evening, bringing an end to nearly two weeks of uncertainty.
Previous female chief ministers of Delhi include BJP’s Sushma Swaraj, Congress’ Sheila Dikshit, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Atishi.
At 50 years old, she is a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, having won against AAP candidate Bandna Kumari by over 29,000 votes in the Assembly elections held on February 5. It’s noteworthy that Ms. Gupta ran for the Shalimar Bagh seat in both the 2015 and 2020 Delhi elections, but faced defeats from AAP’s Bandana Kumari during those years.
Ms. Gupta will take her oath at a significant swearing-in ceremony scheduled for noon tomorrow at the iconic Ramlila Maidan in the city.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the top leadership for trusting me and entrusting me with the responsibility of the post of Chief Minister. This trust and support of yours has given me new energy and inspiration. I pledge that I will work with full honesty, integrity, and dedication for the welfare, empowerment, and overall development of every citizen of Delhi. I am fully committed to this important opportunity to take Delhi to new heights,” Ms. Gupta shared in Hindi on X shortly after the BJP’s major announcement.
मुझ पर विश्वास कर मुख्यमंत्री पद का दायित्व सौंपने के लिए मैं सभी शीर्ष नेतृत्व का हृदय से आभार व्यक्त करती हूं। आपके इस विश्वास और समर्थन ने मुझे नई ऊर्जा और प्रेरणा दी है। मैं संकल्प लेती हूं कि दिल्ली के हर नागरिक के कल्याण, सशक्तिकरण और समग्र विकास के लिए पूरी ईमानदारी,… pic.twitter.com/eYM6X6ptzn
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) February 19, 2025
Born on July 19, 1974, in Nandgarh village of Jind district, Haryana, Rekha Gupta’s father worked as a bank officer. The family relocated to nearby Delhi in 1976 when she was just two years old.
While studying at Delhi University, Ms. Gupta became involved with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Her active participation in student politics led her to be elected President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) for the term of 1996-1997. She also served as Secretary of Dyal Singh College and was heavily involved in student activism, which advanced her public life journey.
Rekha Gupta’s political journey with the BJP began in the early 2000s when she joined the party’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), serving as secretary for the Delhi unit. Her leadership qualities were soon acknowledged, and she was appointed National Secretary of BJYM from 2004 to 2006. Her strong organizational skills and commitment to the party’s goals helped elevate her status within the BJP.
In 2007, Ms. Gupta was elected as a councillor during the MCD elections, representing the North Pitampura constituency. She served as President of the Women’s Welfare and Child Development Committee in MCD from 2007 to 2009.
Additionally, she held several significant roles, including General Secretary of the Delhi BJP Women’s Wing and a National Executive Member of the party.
The BJP reclaimed power in Delhi after a gap of 27 years, securing a two-thirds majority with 48 seats, while the ruling AAP faced major setbacks, resulting in a substantial decrease in its representation in the 70-member assembly (22 seats). The Congress party continued to struggle, failing to secure any seats for the third consecutive time.
(With inputs from agencies)