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COVER STORY FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 4

DELHI CM REKHA GUPTA

WOMAN

POWER

By appointing a first-time woman MLA who kept a low profile as the new chief

minister, BJP sends a message about gender and development. What are the
priorities of the new chief minister for the all-important state?

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
n a surprise development, a
first-time MLA, Rekha Gupta,
I50, was preferred over more se-
nior leaders in Delhi BJP as the new
chief minister apparently because the
party wanted a woman leader to as-
sume the post. She is known to keep
a low profile compared to some oth-
er leaders in Delhi BJP. Her name as
next Delhi CM was announced after
days of intense speculation about the
possible choice. The results of Delhi
assembly polls were declared on Feb-
ruary 8.
Rekha Gupta was sworn-in as
Delhi Chief Minister in a grand cer-
emony at Ramlila Maidan on Thurs-
day. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Ku-
mar Saxena administered the oath of
office to Rekha Gupta and her coun-
cil of ministers. Six other ministers -
Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Man-
jinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Delhi government, at Ramlila
Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Ku-
mar Singh, also took oath of office. Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta)
Bharatiya Janata Party’s top
leadership, including Prime Minister Having risen from the ranks and paigns for the welfare of marginal- Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Narendra Modi, Union Home Minis- served Delhi in different organiza- ized communities and women. After being sworn in as Chief
ter Amit Shah, Health Minister and tional capacities and as a councilor, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minister of Delhi on Thursday,
BJP chief JP Nadda, and Defense Rekha Gupta is familiar with the is- formed the government in the na- Rekha Gupta thanked the people of
Minister Rajnath Singh were present sues and problems of the national tional capital after 27 years. BJP the national capital for putting faith
on the occasion. capital. With the BJP’s election man- won 48 seats out of 70 seats, while in her. “Thank you, Delhi,” she said.
Union Minister Dharmendra ifesto containing a slew of promises, Aam Aadmi Party could win only 22 Earlier, she also expressed her grat-
Pradhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister she is expected to hit the ground run- seats in the assembly polls held ear- itude to the party for choosing her
Bhajan Lal Sharma, Maharashtra ning and adopt a hands-on approach. lier this month. Congress could not as the CM “I thank BJP, and I am
CM Devendra Fadnavis, Goa CM An elected MLA from Shalimar open its account in the third succes- grateful for the blessings of all of
Pramod Sawant, Andhra Pradesh Bagh seat, Rekha has served as gen- sive election. you,” she said.
CM Chandrababu Naidu, Bihar eral secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha Rekha Gupta started her po- Multiple party leaders also
Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha and in Delhi and as a member of its na- litical journey with Akhil Bharatiya praised the Delhi CM, talking about
Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand tional executive committee. In these Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a stu- how the national capital will be devel-
Bairwa were among those present. roles, she initiated numerous cam- dent body affiliated to the Rashtriya Continued on next page... >>

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