Rekha Gupta sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister in BJP's grand power show

Rekha Gupta, a first-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi today (20 February) in a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders.

Gupta's appointment marks the party's return to power in the national capital after 27 years.

The 50-year-old leader secured a decisive victory in the 5 February Delhi Assembly elections, defeating Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Bandana Kumari by over 29,000 votes.

With her appointment, Gupta becomes the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. Notably, she is also the only incumbent woman Chief Minister in any BJP-ruled state.

Addressing the media before the swearing-in ceremony, Gupta expressed her gratitude towards the party leadership. "Prime Minister Modi's vision and his encouragement for women's leadership have made this possible.

Choosing a middle-class woman for such a significant role is a big decision, and I deeply thank the top leadership for their trust in me," she said.

Gupta, a former Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) president and municipal councillor, was selected as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Wednesday evening. Subsequently, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena invited her to form the new government.

"Leader of the BJP Legislative Party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Smt Rekha Gupta, called on LG, Shri VK Saxena, at Raj Niwas and staked her claim to form the new Government of NCT of Delhi. Hon'ble LG accepted the claim and invited her to form the new government," read a statement from the official X handle of the Lieutenant Governor's office.

The swearing-in ceremony saw a strong display of BJP's political might, with Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states in attendance. Following the oath-taking, a crucial National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting is scheduled, which will be attended by Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other key ministers.

Gupta, who has campaigned under the tagline "Kaam hi Pehchaan" (my work is my identity), vowed to prioritise accountability and transparency in governance. "The previous corrupt government of Delhi will have to give an account of each rupee belonging to the people," she asserted, while also extending an olive branch to her predecessor. "I would also like to thank him (Arvind Kejriwal) for his best wishes. I hope all of us work together towards the betterment of Delhi."

With a focus on governance, transparency, and development, Gupta's tenure is set to mark a new chapter in Delhi's political landscape.