Rekha Gupta sworn in as Delhi CM; Cabinet members take oath | WATCH

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday at a grand ceremony held at Ramlila Maidan. This marks a historic moment as the BJP returns to power in Delhi after a 27-year hiatus.

Alongside Gupta, several BJP MLAs, including Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who defeated former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra and Pankaj Singh, were inducted into her Cabinet.

Before heading to the swearing-in ceremony, Gupta offered prayers at the Hanuman Mandir at Kashmiri Gate, seeking blessings for her new role. Upon her arrival at Ramlila Maidan, she was warmly greeted by party leaders, including her designated Deputy Chief Minister, Parvesh Sahib Singh, and other key figures.

Speaking to the media, Parvesh Sahib Singh expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from the people of Delhi. "We have a huge responsibility towards Delhi. The people have shown immense love and blessings. After 27 years, the BJP is forming the government in Delhi today. I thank PM Modi for the trust the people have placed in his vision for development," he said.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior Union Ministers, along with Chief Ministers from NDA states. Key attendees also included Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, and Chief Ministers of neighbouring states such as Bhajanlal Sharma (Rajasthan), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), and Vijay Kumar Sinha (Uttar Pradesh).

Notably, Rekha Gupta’s swearing-in ceremony was also witnessed by Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, a frequent critic of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, especially during the recent Assembly elections.

In her first remarks after taking the oath, Gupta described her appointment as "a miracle" and a source of new motivation. "If I can be the CM, this means that opportunities are open for all women. Anyone involved in corruption will have to account for every single rupee," she asserted.

Rekha Gupta's swearing-in makes her the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi, following the legacy of leaders from BJP, Congress, and AAP. She succeeds Atishi of the Aam Aadmi Party.

Along with Gupta, six other MLAs, including Parvesh Sahib Singh (Deputy CM), Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh, were also sworn in as part of her Cabinet during the ceremony.