NEW DELHI: Catching party heavyweights and hopefuls off-guard, the BJP on Wednesday named first-time MLA Rekha Gupta as Delhi’s new chief minister. Gupta, a three-time councillor from Shalimar Bagh, will lead the party’s government in the capital, marking the BJP’s return to power in Delhi after 27 years.
She will be the fourth woman to hold the top post after Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Sheila Dikshit (Congress) and Atishi (AAP).
Gupta’s appointment underscores the BJP’s strategy to maintain caste and community balance in its cabinet. Alongside her, six ministers will be sworn in at a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday.
The cabinet includes Pravesh Verma (Jaat), Manjinder Sirsa (Sikh), Ashish Sood (Punjabi), Pankaj Kumar Singh (Purvanchali), Ravinder Singh Indraj (Dalit) and Kapil Mishra (Purvanchali and Brahmin).
Gupta was unanimously elected as the BJP legislative party leader in a meeting at the Delhi BJP office, where her name was proposed by MLAs Parvesh Verma, Satish Upadhyay and Vijender Gupta—who were also seen as contenders for the post.
Following her election, she met Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena at Raj Niwas and formally staked her claim to form the government. Saxena welcomed her with a bouquet and approved the swearing-in ceremony.
Before the leadership announcement, BJP observers Ravi Shankar Prasad and OP Dhankar held consultations with key party leaders, including Verma and Upadhyay.
The decision to select Gupta is seen as a move to project a fresh face while reinforcing the party’s grassroots connect.
The swearing-in ceremony is set to be a grand affair, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states expected to attend. Invitations have also been extended to opposition leaders, including former Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, his successor Atishi and Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav.
In an outreach effort, the BJP has also invited jhuggi pradhans, auto-rickshaw and cab drivers, gig workers, and other community representatives.
Gupta, 50, began her political journey with ABVP and had earlier contested DUSU elections. Her elevation signals the BJP’s focus on grassroots leadership as it prepares to govern the capital.