New Delhi, February 20: Rekha Gupta, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister of Delhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, expressed her gratitude to the people of the capital for placing their trust in her. "Thank you, Delhi," she told ANI. She also thanked the BJP for choosing her for the role, saying, "I thank the BJP and am grateful for the blessings of all of you."
Several party leaders have praised Gupta, expressing optimism about Delhi’s future development. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj shared her thoughts, saying, "There will be significant development in Delhi now that Rekha Gupta is sworn in as CM. Under the leadership of PM Modi, she will lead a new chapter of growth. It is an emotional day, and my mother, Sushma Swaraj, is certainly blessing Rekha."
Union Minister Anupriya Patel also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for offering a woman the opportunity to lead Delhi. "I thank PM Modi for giving a woman the chance to govern Delhi. I hope she ensures the city's development. PM Modi often talks about women-led development," Patel remarked.
Congress leader Alka Lamba expressed hopes that Gupta would prioritize the safety of women in the city. Reflecting on their past political history, Lamba stated, "My greetings to the new Delhi CM Rekha Gupta. I was reminded of our past ideological battles when her name was announced. The safety of Delhi's daughters is a significant concern, and I hope she addresses this. We will support her if she works in that direction."
Rekha Gupta, an elected MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has previously served as the general secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Delhi and as a member of its national executive committee. Throughout her career, she has championed causes for marginalized communities and women. The BJP is forming the government in Delhi after a 27-year hiatus, winning 48 out of 70 seats in the recent assembly elections. The Aam Aadmi Party secured just 22 seats, while Congress failed to gain any representation for the third consecutive election.
Gupta’s political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). A graduate of Delhi University's Daulat Ram College, she served as the President of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) in 1996-97 and was an advocate for student issues. As a councilor from North Pitampura in 2007, she worked to improve local facilities, including libraries and parks. She is also a law graduate and the founder of the NGO AAS.
Gupta, 50, is a first-time MLA and was selected as the party’s choice for Delhi CM over more senior leaders, likely due to her role as a woman leader. Known for maintaining a low profile compared to some other Delhi BJP figures, her name emerged after intense speculation. The Delhi Assembly election results were declared on February 8.
