Rekha Gupta: BJP’s New Delhi Chief Minister

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• BJP names Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi.
• Rekha Gupta won from Shalimar Bagh with 29,595 votes.
• Delhi gets a BJP Chief Minister after 27 years.
• Delhi sees its fourth female Chief Minister.
• Rekha Gupta pledges to work with honesty and dedication.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. Rekha Gupta, an MLA from Shalimar Bagh, secured victory with a margin of 29,595 votes. She will be Delhi’s fourth woman Chief Minister, marking a new era for leadership in the capital. Rekha Gupta will take her oath tomorrow at the historic Ramlila Ground.

Election and Victory

Rekha Gupta defeated Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Bandana Kumari and Congress’s Parveen Kumar Jain. Her win signals a significant shift in Delhi’s political landscape. As Kamlesh Kishore Singh, former news director of India Today Group Digital, aptly put it, “BJP Gives Delhi a She M.”

Rekha Gupta’s Response

Upon being chosen as Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta thanked the BJP leadership. She promised to work with “full honesty, integrity and dedication” for the welfare of the people of Delhi. Gupta said on X, “I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the top leadership for trusting me and entrusting me with the responsibility of the post of Chief Minister. This trust and support of yours has given me new energy and inspiration. I pledge that I will work with full honesty, integrity and dedication for the welfare, empowerment and overall development of every citizen of Delhi. I am fully committed to this important opportunity to take Delhi to new heights.”

Political Background

Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA, brings years of political experience to the table. Her journey began with student politics at Delhi University. She has served three terms as a municipal councillor and previously held the position of mayor in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). This vast experience has prepared her well to lead Delhi.

Focus on Women Voters

Following the BJP’s decisive victory in the Assembly polls on February 8, sources had said that a woman legislator would likely be picked as Delhi’s Chief Minister, with Rekha Gupta’s name among the top contenders. The BJP focused on wooing women voters. The manifesto promised Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women, Rs 21,000 for pregnant women, and pensions for seniors, aiming to empower women.

Other Contenders

Hours before the official announcement, sources indicated that the party may appoint someone from the Baniya community, which has a huge voter base in Delhi, to lead the government in the national capital. The names of three leaders from the community – Vijender Gupta, Rekha Gupta, and Jitender Mahajan – were circulating as top contenders for the post. Notably, Rekha Gupta is the only woman Chief Minister from the current group of BJP Chief Ministers. The focus on women and strategic community choices underscores the BJP’s calculated approach to governance.

The BJP, which came back to power in Delhi after 27 years, had focused on wooing women voters, with the manifesto promising Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women, Rs 21,000 for pregnant women, and pensions for seniors, aiming to empower women. The BJP’s promises were an attempt to one-up AAP, which had promised a monthly benefit of Rs 2,100 for women if it was elected for a third term.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Rekha Gupta is elected as the new Chief Minister of Delhi.
• She is the BJP MLA from Shalimar Bagh.
• The BJP returns to power in Delhi after 27 years.
• Gupta pledges to work for the development of Delhi.
• The strategy to woo women voters proved successful.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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