BJP’s Big Move: Rekha Gupta Set to Lead Delhi as New CM

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi following its victory in the 2025 Assembly elections. Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, will take the oath of office on Thursday, February 20, at Ramlila Maidan.The BJP secured a majority in the Delhi Assembly elections, winning 48 out of 70 seats, marking its return to power in the capital after nearly three decades. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had been in power since 2013, won 22 seats, while the Congress failed to secure any.

This election result signals a shift in Delhi’s political landscape, as the BJP successfully capitalized on voter concerns regarding governance, development, and civic infrastructure. The party’s campaign focused on issues such as air pollution, law and order, and civic services, which appeared to resonate with the electorate.
Rekha Gupta, 50, is relatively new to electoral politics but has been active in the BJP’s organizational structure for years.

• She started her political career as the President of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) in 1996-97.
• She later served as a two-time municipal councillor from North Pitampura.
• She held key positions in the BJP Mahila Morcha, including General Secretary of the Delhi unit.
• In the 2025 elections, she defeated AAP’s Bandana Kumari to win the Shalimar Bagh seat.

Gupta has been associated with the party’s women empowerment initiatives and has worked extensively in the Delhi civic administration. Her rise to the chief minister’s office is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to strengthen its grassroots leadership in the capital.
With her appointment, Gupta becomes the fourth woman to serve as Delhi’s Chief Minister, after Sushma Swaraj (BJP, 1998), Sheila Dikshit (Congress, 1998-2013), and Atishi Marlena (AAP, 2024-2025).
As she takes charge, Gupta will face major challenges, including:

• Air pollution control, a persistent problem in Delhi.
• Traffic and transport infrastructure improvements.
• Women’s safety and law enforcement.
• Coordination with the central government on civic governance and administration.

Her swearing-in ceremony is expected to be a high-profile event, with senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, likely to be present.

With the BJP now in power, all eyes will be on Gupta’s leadership and her administration’s approach to governance in the national capital.