Rekha Gupta Announced as Delhi’s New Chief Minister: Celebrations, Journey, and Political Career

On Wednesday evening, as news broke of Rekha Gupta’s selection as Delhi’s next Chief Minister, jubilant BJP supporters and her family members gathered outside her residence in Shalimar Bagh to celebrate. The atmosphere was electric with the sound of dhols and nagadas as party workers chanted slogans like “Sabko dekha, aa gayi Rekha” (We have seen everyone, now Rekha has arrived) and “Jai Shri Ram.”

Inside the house, Gupta’s husband, businessman Manish Gupta, expressed his excitement. “I am extremely thrilled and look forward to supporting my wife in this new role,” he told reporters. Her mother-in-law, Meera Gupta, distributed sweets to visitors and shared her joy, saying, “I am delighted she won. Whatever the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) couldn’t accomplish, she will. She has been a great daughter-in-law and will prove to be an excellent Chief Minister as well.”

From Student Leader to Chief Minister

A first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh and an experienced municipal councillor, Gupta is set to become Delhi’s fourth woman Chief Minister. Following her selection at the BJP legislature party meeting, she will officially take the oath of office on Thursday afternoon. With this, she will be the only woman CM currently governing a BJP-ruled state or Union Territory.

Born in Nandgarh village in Haryana’s Jind district, the 50-year-old leader moved to Delhi with her family when she was just two years old. Her father worked at the State Bank of India. Gupta’s political journey began in 1993 when she joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, during her time at Daulat Ram College. She served as the general secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) from 1995 to 1996 and later became its president from 1996 to 1997. She holds a commerce degree and a Master’s in management and arts from the University of Delhi.

In 2002, Gupta joined the BJP and quickly rose through the ranks. She served as the secretary of the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) before becoming its national secretary, a position she held until 2005. She later took on leadership roles within the BJP’s Mahila Morcha, serving as its Delhi general secretary, national vice-chairperson, and Uttar Pradesh in-charge. Additionally, she has been a member of the BJP National Executive.

Political Ups and Downs

Gupta entered electoral politics in 2007, winning the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election from North Pitampura. She was later appointed chairperson of the wWomen’swelfare and Child Development Committee. She was re-elected from the same ward in 2012 and served as vice-chairperson of the MCD’s standing committee, its top financial decision-making body. From 2012 to 2013, she also held the position of education secretary in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

Her first Assembly election campaign in 2015 ended in defeat against AAP’s Bandana Kumari, who won by 10,978 votes. In 2020, she ran against Kumari again, narrowing the margin to 3,440 votes but still falling short. In the 2022 MCD elections, she won from the Shalimar Bagh ward and was BJP’s candidate for mayoral polls but lost to AAP’s Shelly Oberoi.

Despite setbacks, Gupta remained committed to her political ambitions. She pursued a Bachelor of Laws degree from a college in Ghaziabad, further strengthening her credentials. This year, in her third Assembly election attempt against Bandana Kumari, she secured a decisive victory with a margin of 29,595 votes, paving the way for her appointment as Chief Minister.

Personal Life and Leadership Style

Gupta is a mother of two. Her daughter is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Australia, while her son is completing his engineering degree in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Her colleagues praise her leadership skills and political experience. Raja Iqbal Singh, Leader of the Opposition in MCD, remarked, “She has been politically active for several years. Her association with the ABVP and RSS has given her vast experience, and she is highly responsive to people’s concerns.”

Saraswati Vihar councilor Shikha Bharadwaj echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I have known her since the start of my political career. She is an excellent administrator—bold, approachable, and solution-oriented. She understands Delhi’s problems and knows how to address them.”

As Gupta prepares to assume office, all eyes will be on her leadership and the direction she takes in shaping Delhi’s governance.