New Delhi: Rekha Gupta, a first-time BJP MLA, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Ramlila Maidan in a grand display of strength by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which returned to power in the city after a gap of over 26 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rekha Gupta on her new role and praised her journey from grassroots politics to becoming the Chief Minister. In a message on X, formerly Twitter, PM Modi said, “Congratulations to Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji on taking oath as Delhi’s Chief Minister. She has risen from the grassroots, being active in campus politics, state organisation, municipal administration and now MLA as well as Chief Minister. I am confident she will work for Delhi’s development with full vigour. My best wishes to her for a fruitful tenure.”
Congratulations to Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji on taking oath as Delhi’s Chief Minister. She has risen from the grassroots, being active in campus politics, state organisation, municipal administration and now MLA as well as Chief Minister. I am confident she will work for Delhi’s… pic.twitter.com/GEC9liURd9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 20, 2025
PM Modi congratulates Delhi cabinet ministers
Rekha Gupta, who is known for her dedication to social causes and political activism, represents a fresh face in Delhi’s leadership. Her rise through the ranks of campus politics, municipal administration, and state organisation has earned her widespread respect within the BJP and beyond.
The new government also saw six ministers take their oath alongside Rekha Gupta. PM Modi congratulated the team and expressed his confidence in their ability to deliver good governance for Delhi. “Congratulations to Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Ji, Shri Ashish Sood Ji, Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa Ji, Shri Ravinder Indraj Singh Ji, Shri Kapil Mishra Ji and Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh Ji on taking oath as Ministers in the Delhi Government. This team beautifully mixes vigour and experience, and will surely ensure good governance for Delhi. Best wishes to them.”
Congratulations to Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Ji, Shri Ashish Sood Ji, Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa Ji, Shri Ravinder Indraj Singh Ji, Shri Kapil Mishra Ji and Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh Ji on taking oath as Ministers in the Delhi Government. This team beautifully mixes vigour and… pic.twitter.com/S7fUjnVeR5
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 20, 2025
Rekha Gupta is 9th CM of Delhi
Rekha Gupta has become the 9th Chief Minister in the political history of Delhi. After independence, during the first assembly elections in Delhi in 1952, Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav of Congress became the first CM of Delhi. However, the Congress replaced him midway and appointed Gurmukh Nihal Singh as the Chief Minister.
Subsequently, the assembly in Delhi was abolished and later restored in 1991. When assembly elections were held again in 1993, BJP came to power and Madan Lal Khurana became the CM. However, during his tenure, he was made to resign and Sahib Singh Verma was appointed as the CM in his place.
Just before 1998 elections, BJP made Sushma Swaraj the CM in place of Sahib Singh Verma. When Congress returned to power by defeating BJP in 1998 elections, Sheila Dixit became the CM.
After this, Sheila Dixit remained the CM for 15 years, but after the political rise of Arvind Kejriwal in 2013, she was out of power and could not return. After this, Arvind Kejriwal became the CM of Delhi thrice, but in September 2024, he resigned from the post of CM and handed over the reins of power to Atishi.