Rekha Gupta to take oath today: Cleaning Yamuna to managing Delhi finances, BJP govt has task cut out

File photo of Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah with party candidate from Shalimar Bagh constituency Rekha Gupta during a roadshow for Delhi Assembly elections in New Delhi. (PTI)

As Rekha Gupta takes the oath as the ninth Chief Minister, Delhi expects her to hit the ground running from day one. The BJP, which stormed to power after 27 years, aims to make a mark and highlight the difference brought by its ‘double-engine Sarkar.’

The challenges for the BJP government are manifold. From addressing issues related to civic amenities to delivering on promises such as cleaning the Yamuna, Rekha Gupta will need to strike a balance. On top of that, the critical challenge of fiscal responsibility looms large. With numerous freebies promised in the manifesto, the BJP government must demonstrate how it stands apart from its predecessor.

As Delhi prepares for the grand oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan, here are the key challenges facing the Rekha Gupta government:

1. Cleaning the Yamuna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began and ended his victory speech at BJP headquarters with ‘Yamuna ki Jai’ after the party's landslide victory in the Delhi elections on February 8. This underscores the importance the BJP attaches to cleaning the Yamuna. However, how does the party go beyond slogans and bring about real change on the ground?

Since 2015, every government in Delhi has promised a cleaner Yamuna, but challenges such as untreated sewage, illegal industries discharging effluents, and unauthorized colonies along the riverbanks have remained unresolved. No previous government, whether AAP or Congress, has successfully tackled this issue. Can the BJP accomplish this task?

In recent years, over Rs 8,000 crore has been spent on cleaning the Yamuna, yet the river remains in a dire state. The new administration must find an effective strategy to achieve what previous governments could not.

2. Fiscal Responsibility

Election Commission data shows that women voters played a crucial role in the BJP’s victory, with a voter turnout of 60.92% among women compared to 60.21% among men. In its manifesto, the BJP promised the ‘Matru Suraksha Vandana’ scheme, which guarantees nutrition kits and Rs 21,000 for all pregnant women. Additionally, the party pledged a monthly cash transfer of Rs 2,500 under the ‘Mahila Samriddhi Yojana.’

With Rekha Gupta as Chief Minister, women in Delhi will expect the BJP to fulfill these promises. However, these welfare schemes come with a significant financial burden, estimated at Rs 10,000 crore—nearly 60% of Delhi’s education budget. If the cost of welfare subsidies continues to rise, the Delhi government may face a sharp revenue deficit.

Previous data showed that Delhi’s revenue surplus dropped to Rs 4,966 crore, just a third of the previous year's Rs 14,457 crore. An analysis by the Reserve Bank of India indicates that in 2013-14, the Delhi government allocated 1.1% of the state budget to capital outlay. By 2023-24, this spending ratio had declined to 0.8%, and if the current trend continues, it is projected to drop further to 0.5% in the current financial year.

3. Fixing Civic Amenities

Overflowing sewage and garbage-strewn streets were among the most pressing concerns Delhiites had with the Arvind Kejriwal government. The Aam Aadmi Party often defended itself by claiming that the Centre was treating Delhi unfairly.

The BJP’s election campaign strongly emphasised the benefits of a ‘double-engine Sarkar.’ Now, with the party in power at both the Centre and state levels and holding an edge in the municipal corporation, the Rekha Gupta administration faces the challenge of delivering on its promises.

According to an Indian Express report, even before the government’s oath-taking ceremony, a draft Cabinet note had been prepared for the swift implementation of key schemes. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether the BJP can translate its electoral promises into tangible improvements for the people of Delhi.