Who is Rekha Gupta, BJP's pick set to be Delhi's 4th woman chief minister?

Delhi's new CM, Rekha Gupta: After nearly two weeks of speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced first-time MLA Rekha Gupta as Delhi's next chief minister. She will take oath today, Thursday, at 12 pm in a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Gupta’s appointment comes 11 days after the BJP’s resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. Alongside her, BJP leaders Parvesh Verma, Kapil Mishra, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravindra Raj, Ashish Sood, and Pankaj Singh are also expected to be sworn in as cabinet ministers.

Also Read: Rekha Gupta to be Delhi’s next CM, BJP picks Parvesh Verma as deputy

Who is Rekha Gupta? 

Though a first-time MLA, Rekha Gupta, 50, is no stranger to politics. She began her political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while studying at Delhi University's Daulat Ram College. She served as the general secretary of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) from 1995 to 1996 and became its president in 1996-97.

A BCom graduate from Delhi University and a law degree holder from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Gupta has been associated with the BJP since 2002. She has held key positions, including national secretary of the party's youth wing and national vice-president of the BJP Mahila Morcha. She also served as the women’s wing in-charge for Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

From councillor to chief minister: Rekha Gupta's political journey

Gupta entered electoral politics in 2007, winning the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections from North Pitampura. She was re-elected in 2012 and later from Shalimar Bagh in the 2022 MCD polls. As chairperson of the women’s welfare and child development committee, she led several initiatives, including the Sumedha Yojana, which supports economically weaker female students in pursuing higher education.

After two unsuccessful attempts in Assembly elections against AAP’s Bandana Kumari in 2015 and 2020, Gupta finally clinched victory from the Shalimar Bagh seat in 2024, defeating Kumari by nearly 30,000 votes.

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Fourth woman CM of Delhi

With her swearing-in, Gupta will become the fourth woman chief minister of Delhi, after Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. She will also be the fourth BJP chief minister in the capital after Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj.

Gupta will be the only woman chief minister in any BJP-ruled state currently, marking a significant milestone for the party. Her leadership is expected to focus on women’s empowerment, civic development, and grassroots governance, aligning with her long-standing political priorities.

The oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan is set to be a grand affair, symbolising a new chapter in Delhi’s political landscape under BJP's leadership.