NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister-designate Rekha Gupta on Thursday reaffirmed her government’s promise of providing Rs 2,500 monthly financial aid to women, assuring that the first installment would be credited by March 8, International Women’s Day.
She also took a swipe at the previous AAP government, stating that it would have to account for every penny spent during its tenure.
Gupta, who will take oath as Delhi’s fourth woman CM at a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan later in the day, visited Shri Marghat Wale Hanuman temple in Kashmiri Gate before the event.
BJP’s roadmap for Delhi
Emphasizing her focus on fulfilling election promises, Gupta said, “It is our responsibility to implement PM Narendra Modi’s vision for Delhi. Women will receive financial aid in their accounts by March 8.”
The BJP, which swept the Delhi Assembly elections by winning 48 out of 70 seats, had promised Rs 2,500 per month for women, outmatching AAP’s pre-poll commitment of Rs 2,100 per month.
New cabinet takes shape
According to a Union home ministry gazette notification, BJP MLAs Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Singh will be part of Gupta’s Cabinet.
Speaking ahead of the oath-taking, Kapil Mishra said the new government would work towards realizing PM Modi’s vision for the capital. Pankaj Singh, who has been inducted as a minister, added, “I will dutifully carry out the responsibilities given by the party.”
Gupta, a former Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president and municipal councilor, is set to end AAP’s decade-long rule, with PM Modi and other senior BJP leaders expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.