In a historic ceremony at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on February 20, 2025, Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi, marking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) return to power in the capital after 27 years. The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent leaders in attendance.
Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, becomes Delhi’s fourth female Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi Marlena. In her inaugural address, she expressed gratitude to the party leadership and emphasized her commitment to addressing the city’s pressing challenges, including pollution control and infrastructure development. She stated, “We will work together for a ‘Viksit Delhi’ (Developed Delhi).”
The newly formed cabinet includes notable figures such as Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh, all of whom were sworn in as ministers during the ceremony. The administration’s immediate agenda focuses on cleaning the Yamuna River, de-silting roads and sewers ahead of the monsoon season, launching extensive sanitation drives, and repairing city roads.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations, highlighting Gupta’s grassroots journey from student politics to municipal administration and now to the Chief Minister’s office. He expressed confidence in her leadership, stating, “I am confident she will work for Delhi’s development with full vigour.”
Following the swearing-in, Chief Minister Gupta commenced her official duties with a visit to the Delhi Secretariat to formally assume office. She also scheduled visits to Vasudev Ghat and Yamuna Bazaar later in the day, underscoring her commitment to environmental initiatives. The first cabinet meeting is set to convene in the evening at the Delhi Secretariat.
Gupta’s ascension is particularly noteworthy as it reflects the BJP’s strategic efforts to consolidate its position in Delhi, especially after the party’s significant victory in the recent local elections, securing 48 out of 70 seats. Her leadership is anticipated to bring a renewed focus on urban development and public welfare in the national capital.