The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Rekha Gupta as the next Chief Minister of Delhi, marking a historic comeback for the party after 27 years. The decision came after an intense BJP legislative party meeting. Where Gupta emerged as the consensus choice among the party leaders. She will be Delhi’s third female Chief Minister and BJP’s second woman CM after Shushma Swaraj.
Who is Rekha Gupta?
Rekha Gupta is a young prominent female party face she served as the Delhi Maila Morcha Chief and then subsequently she also was the DUSU (Delhi University Student Union) president (1996-1997). She is recognized for her close ties with RSS and her grassroots engagements in the BJP. She originally hails from Haryana.
Rekha Gupta is a seasoned BJP leader with deep-rooted political experience. She represents Shalimar Bagh as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and has been a key figure in Delhi politics for years. Her political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP, where she played a vital role in Delhi University politics.
Over the years, Gupta transitioned into mainstream politics and was elected as a Delhi Councillor before rising through the party ranks. She has served as the general secretary of BJP’s Delhi unit, making her one of the most influential women leaders in the party.
BJP’s historic win in Delhi and Rekh Gupta’s contribution
The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections saw the BJP secure a decisive victory, ending AAP’s 10-year rule in the capital. This was the first time since 1998 that the party managed to win Delhi on its own.
Rekha Gupta played a crucial role in this victory by leading the BJP’s campaign on key issues:
Women’s safety and empowerment- advocating for stronger policies to make Delhi safe for women.
Urban development- pushing for better civic infrastructure and waste management.
Anti-corruption stand- criticizing the APP government's alleged involvement in scams and misgovernance.
She won the Shalimar Bagh constituency with a significant margin, defeating AAP’s prominent leader Vandana Kumari, and Congress candidate Priyanka Singh.
The possible reason why Rekha Gupta was chosen may be because the BJP wanted to boost women’s representation in leadership. Gupta’s appointment aligns with the party’s national strategy of empowering female leaders. Unlike seasoned veterans, she represents a new generation of leadership that can appeal to younger voters. Her journey from student politics to MLA resonates with BJP’s organizational culture, which values ground-level workers. Experts say the BJP aims to revamp Delhi’s governance, and Gupta’s clean, development-focused record made her the ideal pick.
Delhi’s Third Woman CM and BJP’s Second Female Chief Minister
Delhi’s third woman CM and BJP’s second female Chief Minister
With this appointment, Rekha Gupta becomes Delhi's third female Chief minister, after Shushma Swaraj (BJP, 1998) and Sheila Dikshit (Congress 1998-2013). She became the BJP’s second woman CM in Delhi, following Sushma Swara, who held the office briefly in 1998.
Swearing-in ceremony on February 20
Rekha Gupta will take oath as Chief Minster on February 20 at Ramlila Maidan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior BJP leaders.
With the BJP’s return to power after nearly three decades, all eyes are on Rekha Gupta’s leadership and her vision for Delhi's future.