Rekha Gupta to be Delhi CM: Here's why BJP chose first time MLA for CM post

BJP’s Rekha Gupta becomes the 4th woman to hold the position of Chief Minister. (Image: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday evening announced first-time MLA Rekha Gupta as its choice for Delhi Chief Minister, ending the 11-day suspense. She will sworn-in on Thursday after being elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 12.35 pm today at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The event will be attended by key BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president JP Nadda, senior Union ministers like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, along with prominent figures from the business and cultural sectors.

Gupta, 51, won the Shalimar Bagh seat in the Delhi Assembly election with a margin of almost 30,000 votes and became a first-time MLA.  She secured 68,200 votes.

Gupta was one of the several BJP leaders who were the frontrunners for the CM's post. Parvesh Verma, who defeated Arvind Kejriwal in the assembly polls and former Delhi BJP presidents Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay were also cited as frontrunners for the chief minister's post.

Check live updates of Delhi swearing-in ceremony here

Here's why BJP might've chosen her as the CM face

Rekha Gupta is a fresh face with a non controversial background. She has been working with the saffron party for over three decades.

By making Gupta as CM, the BJP might want to solidify party's stance on women in electoral politics and policies.

Rekha Gupta is a seasoned BJP leader with a long political inning now ahead of her. She is currently serving as the General Secretary of Delhi BJP, the 50-year-old has previously been the National Vice President of BJP’s Mahila Morcha.

Also Read | Who is Rekha Gupta? Student politics to administration- tracing Delhi CM-elect's political journey

Gupta began her journey in politics as the President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) from 1996 to 1997. She was elected to the Delhi Councillor elections from Uttari Pitampura in 2007.She was again elected in Delhi Councillor elections from North Pitampura in 2012.

The BJP stormed to power after a gap of 27 years winning 48 seats in the 70-member Assembly.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The ceremony will be attended by top leaders of the BJP, including PM Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, senior Union ministers such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and others and leading personalities from business and culture.

Also Read | Delhi CM oath ceremony: When, where and how to watch Delhi CM swearing-in live