First-time elect Rekha Gupta of the Bharatiya Janata Party took oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. She is the fourth female leader appointed to this critical post. Gupta won the 2025 Delhi Assembly Elections from Shalimar Bagh, defeating AAP's Bandana Kumari. She was chosen as CM during the BJP’s legislature party meeting, attended by observers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Om Prakash Dhankhar on February 19. This election broke BJP's 27-year dry spell in the national capital, securing 48 seats in the 70-member House.
Speaking to the media, Gupta shared, "Choosing a middle-class woman for such a significant role is a big decision, and I deeply thank the top leadership for their trust in me. They have given me this immense responsibility, and I am committed to fulfilling it with dedication." She credited her achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and positivity towards women in leadership.
"It is a miracle, it is a new motivation and a new chapter. If I can be the chief minister, this means all ways are open for all women... Anyone who has been corrupt will have to give an account of each and every rupee," Rekha Gupta told news agency Asian News International, and thanked the BJP for trusting her to govern the national capital.
Rekha Gupta's family reacts
Gupta's family also shared their reaction to her becoming the CM of Delhi. "She used to take care of both her house as well as society. She took care of the entire Shalimar Bagh for two years. She is habitual of working hard... She will handle it all. We are all so happy," said her mother-in-law Meera Gupta, in an interview with ANI.
The chief minister's son Nikunj Gupta said, "It is good that a woman has been given the opportunity to be the chief minister. We are confident she will be able to shoulder her responsibility very well. Her 30-year-long hard work has proved to be successful. She has worked hard and did all this on her own. She started from DUSU... We thank PM Modi, the party and everyone for this opportunity to her."
Rekha Gupta's Distinguished Career
Rekha Gupta was born in Nandgarh village in Haryana’s Jind district. She was two years old when her parents moved to Delhi. Her father worked with the State Bank of India. Gupta holds a degree in commerce and a Master’s in management and arts. Her tryst with leadership began in her college days at Daulat Ram College, Delhi University.
In 1992, she joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), kickstarting her political journey. She served as the president and general secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU), raising student-related issues. In 2002, Gupta joined the BJP and went on to become the secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha’s Delhi unit.
In 2007, Gupta was elected as a councillor from North Pitampura, where she enhanced public amenities like libraries, parks, and swimming pools. She was re-elected in 2012 and later served as the mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). Gupta also served as the head of the Women Welfare and Child Development Committee.
Gupta launched the “Sumedha Yojana” to help economically weaker girls pursue higher education. She has also served as the general secretary of the Delhi BJP’s Mahila Morcha, the national vice-chairperson of the BJP Mahila Morcha, the national in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Mahila Morcha, and has been a member of the BJP National Executive.
Gupta contested her first Delhi Assembly election in 2015 when she lost to the AAP’s Bandana Kumari by 10,978 votes. Five years later, she again lost to Kumari by 3,440 votes. In 2022, she again contested the MCD polls and won from the Shalimar Bagh ward. The third time's the charm, as she won the 2025 Assembly polls by 29,595 votes.
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