DELHI'S 4TH WOMAN CM Rekha Gupta takes charge with grand oath

Gupta allocates portfolios; retains finance, services, revenue and WCD

- SURUCHI KUMARI

Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, marking the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) return to power in the national capital after more than 26 years. Gupta, a debutant legislator from Shalimar Bagh, took the oath of office along with six ministers in a grand show of strength full of colour and spectacle at Ramlila Ground, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders, and allied National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders. Gupta's appointment makes her the fourth woman to hold the position of Delhi's chief minister, following Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. She is also the only woman heading an NDA-led state government, aside from West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee.

The new Cabinet has been strategically formed to represent various communities and social groups.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa represents the Sikh community, Parvesh Verma is a Jat leader, Kapil Mishra serves as the Brahmin face of the party, Ashish Sood is from the Punjabi Khatri community, Ravinder Indraj Singh is a prominent Dalit leader, and Pankaj Kumar Singh represents the Purvanchali community. Veteran BJP leader Vijender Gupta will serve as the Assembly Speaker, with Mohan Bisht as his deputy.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Gupta and expressed confidence in her leadership. “She has risen from the grassroots, having experience in campus politics, municipal governance, and now state administration,” he said.