Rekha Gupta, the debutante MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been elected as Delhi’s Chief Minister on Wednesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators unanimously chose her for the role. Gupta is the only woman Chief Minister in all BJP and NDA-ruled states. She is also the second woman to hold the position of Chief Minister in the country, after Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal. Additionally, Gupta becomes the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi.
A Focus on Development
Rekha Gupta expressed her commitment to fulfilling her promises to the people of Delhi. “My priority will be to fulfill the commitments made to the people of Delhi and also to realize the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the national capital,” she said. She also added, “A golden chapter of Delhi towards development is starting. I would like to express my gratitude for getting this opportunity.”
She has tweeted on X expressing her gratitude, "I sincerely thank the leadership and the people of Delhi for entrusting me with the responsibility of Chief Minister. Your support is my motivation, and I will remain dedicated to the development of Delhi and serving the people with full integrity."
दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री पद की जिम्मेदारी सौंपने और मुझ पर विश्वास जताने के लिए मैं शीर्ष नेतृत्व और दिल्ली की जनता की हृदय से आभार व्यक्त करती हूँ। आपका समर्थन मेरी प्रेरणा है, और मैं पूरी निष्ठा से दिल्ली के विकास और जनसेवा के लिए समर्पित रहूंगी।#मुख्यमंत्री #शीर्षनेतृत्व… pic.twitter.com/2U2qM1Nxay
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) February 19, 2025
Political Journey and Rise
Born in 1974 in Nandgarh village, Haryana, Rekha Gupta started her political journey with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during her student days. She has risen through the ranks of politics, with strong ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). At 50 years old, Gupta is a first-time MLA, yet she beat out several senior BJP leaders for the Chief Minister role. Her competitors included Parvesh Sahib Singh, Vijender Gupta, and Satish Upadhyay.
Educational Background and Contributions
Gupta studied at Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College and became the Delhi Students’ Union (DUSU) President in 1996-97. She advocated for student issues during her tenure. In 2007, Gupta served as a councillor for North Pitampura. There, she focused on developing basic facilities like libraries and parks. Besides her political career, she earned an LLB and founded the NGO AAS.
Family Background and Personal Life
Gupta comes from a family with a strong service background. Her grandfather, Maniram Jindal, was a trader, while her father, Jaibhagwan, worked as a manager at the State Bank of India. Her mother, Urmila Jindal, was a homemaker. Gupta’s family moved to Delhi when she was two years old due to her father’s job transfer.
In 1998, Rekha married businessman Manish Gupta. They have two children: a son pursuing engineering in Vellore, and a daughter completing her post-graduation in Australia.
Rekha Gupta’s election marks a historic moment for Delhi. As a woman leader with experience in student politics and local governance, she is now ready to lead the city toward a new era of growth. With the support of Prime Minister Modi’s vision, Gupta aims to fulfill her promises and take Delhi to new heights.