Who is Rekha Gupta, Delhi’s New CM?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Rekha Gupta becomes the new Chief Minister of Delhi.
She is a former President of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU).
BJP continues the legacy of women Chief Ministers in Delhi.
Women voters outnumbered men in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Rekha Gupta is a non-controversial and fresh face in Delhi politics.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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The BJP surprised everyone by making Rekha Gupta the Chief Minister of Delhi. But who exactly is Rekha Gupta? Rekha Gupta cut her teeth in politics with the Delhi University students’ elections. She is a three-time councillor and former mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). In 2022, she was also pitted by the BJP as the MCD mayoral candidate against AAP’s Shelly Oberoi.

Political Career

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Rekha Gupta is the National Vice President of the BJP Mahila Morcha. She has previously served as the general secretary of the Delhi BJP. Gupta graduated from Daulat Ram College and served as the President of DUSU in the 1996-97 session. She was first elected as a councillor from North Pitampura in 2007. Her long and steady climb shows her dedication to the party and the people.

Why BJP Might Have Chosen Rekha Gupta as Delhi CM

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By making Rekha Gupta the Delhi CM, the BJP is trying to build on the legacy of women chief ministers, and showing AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s stint as a contrast and aberration. This move is both strategic and symbolic, aiming to appeal to a broad voter base.

Women Chief Ministers in Delhi

Delhi has seen a string of women chief ministers, including the 15-year rule of Congress’s Sheila Dikshit. The other women CMs of Delhi were AAP’s Atishi and the BJP’s Sushma Swaraj. Atishi, the MLA from Kalkaji, is the outgoing CM, who was in the chair for five months. She was made to step in after Kejriwal quit as the CM in September 2024. Sushma Swaraj was the Delhi CM from October 12, 1998, till December 3, 1998. She was brought in by the BJP leadership to firefight just ahead of the Assembly polls, which the party eventually lost. Surging prices of onion was one of the issues that cost the BJP the election. This historical context highlights the role of women in Delhi’s political history.

Focus on Women Voters

For the election to the 70-member Delhi Assembly, the BJP fielded nine women candidates. Four of the women candidates won. Women in Delhi voted more than men in the 2025 Assembly elections. Women voter turnout stood at 60.92%, while men were at 60.21%. The AAP, which relied on female voters, lost badly, while the BJP won decisively, bagging 48 of the 70 seats. In continuation of its focus on women as a voter base, the BJP made big promises in its Delhi election manifesto. This focus shows the growing importance of women in Indian politics.

Women-Centric Schemes

Just like the AAP, the BJP also announced women-centric schemes before the Delhi women. The BJP, matching the AAP’s Rs 2,100 cash dole, announced a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women in Delhi under the Mahila Samridhi Yojana. Moreover, it also reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing welfare schemes for women, such as free bus travel. The BJP has promised Rs 21,000 and six nutritional kits for every pregnant woman, along with free cervical, breast, and ovarian cancer screenings in all Delhi government hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. These schemes are designed to directly benefit women and their families.

Non-Controversial Face

Unlike leaders like Delhi BJP leaders Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Verma, Rekha Gupta hasn’t seen any major controversy. She is also a fresh face because she hasn’t contested the parliamentary election and is ideal as a fresh face to script a new chapter in Delhi’s history. This makes her an ideal candidate for uniting different factions within the party and appealing to a wider electorate.

Conclusion

Rekha Gupta is a political veteran who has risen through the party ranks and has been associated with the BJP for over three decades. In naming her the Delhi CM, not only has the BJP gone for a non-controversial politician, but a woman leader and a fresh face too. Her extensive experience and clean image make her well-positioned to lead Delhi forward.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember