New Delhi: As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rekha Gupta took oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, becoming the fourth woman to hold the post, she expressed gratitude to the people of the national capital. She acknowledged their trust in her leadership.
"Thank you, Delhi," she said after the swearing-in ceremony.

Gupta also extended her appreciation to the BJP for selecting her for the top post. "I thank BJP, and I am grateful for the blessings of all of you," she said.

Several BJP leaders lauded Gupta’s appointment, emphasising the development prospects under her leadership. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj highlighted the potential transformation of the capital under Gupta’s governance.

"There will be a lot of development in Delhi after BJP leader Rekha Gupta takes oath as the CM of Delhi. She will write a new chapter of development under the leadership of PM Modi... It is a very emotional day, and my mother Sushma Swaraj is surely blessing Rekha Gupta," she told reporters.

Union Minister Anupriya Patel also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting a woman with the responsibility of governing the city.
"I thank PM Modi for giving an opportunity to a woman to govern Delhi... I am hopeful that she will ensure the development of Delhi... PM Modi always talks about women-led development," she stated.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Alka Lamba extended her best wishes to the new CM while emphasising the need for improving women's safety in the capital. She also recalled her past political engagements with Gupta.
Gupta, an elected MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has previously served as the general secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Delhi and was a member of the party’s national executive committee. She has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at empowering women and supporting marginalized communities.

The BJP is set to lead Delhi after a gap of 27 years, securing a decisive victory in the assembly elections by winning 48 out of 70 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured 22 seats, while Congress failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive election.
Gupta’s political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an RSS-affiliated student organization. A graduate of Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College, she served as the President of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) in 1996-97, advocating for student welfare.

In 2007, she was elected as a councillor from North Pitampura, where she worked towards infrastructure development, including libraries and parks. A law graduate and the founder of the NGO AAS, she previously contested the mayoral elections in 2023 but lost to AAP’s Shelly Oberoi.
At 50, Gupta is a first-time MLA who was chosen over several senior BJP leaders, reportedly due to the party’s preference for a woman leader at the helm. Known for maintaining a low profile within Delhi BJP, her selection as CM followed days of speculation. The Delhi assembly election results were declared on February 8. 

Agencies