In a significant political development, BJP MLA and Chief Minister-designate Rekha Gupta met with Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Wednesday evening, formally staking her claim to form the government in the national capital. Gupta was accompanied by BJP state observers Ravi Shankar Prasad and OP Dhankar, along with city BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Delhi MPs, including Bansuri Swaraj, Praveen Khandelwal, and Kamaljeet Sehrawat.
Leader of the House
The following day, Rekha Gupta was chosen as the Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly during a meeting of the BJP legislature party. This decision cements her position as the new face of the BJP-led government in Delhi.
A Historic First for Women
At 50, Gupta is set to become the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi. She follows in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. A former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president and civic body councilor, Gupta is poised to make history as Delhi’s first woman BJP Chief Minister.
Swearing-In Ceremony at Ramlila Maidan
The swearing-in ceremony for the new BJP government, led by Gupta, is set to take place on Thursday afternoon at the iconic Ramlila Maidan, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries will be present. This ceremony will mark a new chapter in Delhi’s political landscape.
BJP’s Historic Victory
Gupta’s leadership comes after the BJP secured a decisive win in the recently concluded 70-member Delhi Assembly elections. The party claimed 48 seats, effectively ending the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long rule in the capital. Gupta will also become the fourth Chief Minister from the BJP in Delhi, following in the footsteps of Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj.
Notably, Gupta will be the only incumbent woman Chief Minister in any BJP-ruled state. Her leadership signals a significant shift in Delhi’s political dynamics and the BJP’s growing influence in the national capital.