Bharatiya Janata Party's Rekha Gupta on Thursday took oath as the ninth chief minister of Delhi. Ending days of suspense, the saffron party on Wednesday evening picked her to lead the state, scuttling the chances of many probable candidates that were doing the rounds post BJP's emphatic victory in the state.
Gupta won the Delhi Assembly polls from Shalimar Bagh defeating AAP candidate Bandana Kumari by over 29,000 votes. "Kaam hi Pehchaan" (my work is my identity), is a tagline that she uses on her website for her campaigns. She has become the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi after Sushma Swara, Sheila Dikshit and Atishi. In the recently-held Delhi state elections, the BJP won 48 out of 70 seats, defeating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and returning to power in Delhi after nearly three decades.
Rekha Gupta is a seasoned BJP leader with a long political career rooted in student leadership. 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. She won the Shalimar Bagh (North-West) seat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly Election with 68,200 votes.
Gupta, a lawyer by profession, began her journey in politics as the President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) from 1996 to 1997. She later transitioned into municipal politics, winning the Delhi Councillor elections from Uttari Pitampura (Ward 54) in 2007 and securing re-election in 2012. She has also served as the Mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, further strengthening her administrative credentials.
Gupta emerged victorious from the Shalimar Bagh constituency, defeating the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Bandana Kumari by a significant margin of 29,595 votes. A graduate professional with assets totaling Rs 5.3 crore and liabilities of Rs 1.2 crore, Gupta has established herself as a strong and effective leader.
Gupta's political journey began in the early '90s when she joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Daulat Ram College, Delhi University, in 1992. By 1996-97, she became the President of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU), cementing her role as a leader. In 2007, she won the MCD Councillor elections from Uttari Pitampura (Ward 54), later rising to the position of National Executive Member of the BJP.
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