Modi’s pick of Rekha Gupta as Delhi CM: A signal to opposition and Bihar polls

Rekha Gupta: BJP’s first woman Chief Minister in Delhi

Hats off to Narendra Modi. Modi has made a bold statement by appointing Rekha Gupta, a Jind-born Haryanvi, as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. Twelve days after BJP’s victory in the Delhi polls, Modi surprised many by choosing a staunch RSS worker—and a woman—to lead Viksit Delhi, a long-standing BJP dream.

The selection of a woman as Chief Minister reveals BJP’s future strategies at the national level. It’s a direct challenge to the dynasty politics practiced by opposition parties. As per the “Advani theorem” that BJP is a party with a difference, Modi challenged Congress to name an OBC or Dalit family where the mother, son, and daughter are all Members of Parliament. This was a clear jab at Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi.

Rekha Gupta’s appointment is expected to be a major talking point during BJP’s Bihar election campaign, targeting leaders like Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Yadav of RJD, and Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP. Her elevation will be highlighted as a symbol of women’s empowerment and the BJP’s commitment to the 33% women’s reservation quota. Notably, among the 18 BJP-ruled states with male Chief Ministers, Rekha Gupta is the first woman CM, further strengthening Modi’s call for youth participation in politics to combat corruption and dismantle dynastic rule—a key element of the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Gupta’s appointment also holds special significance for the RSS. Her selection coincided with the inauguration of a multi-storied RSS headquarters in Delhi, attended by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and former BJP presidents Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari. This coincidence is seen as a symbolic return gift from the BJP to the RSS during its centenary celebrations.

The Delhi Assembly now features a face-off between two women—Chief Minister Rekha Gupta from BJP and Leader of Opposition Atishi from AAP—marking a historic moment of women leading both the ruling party and opposition.

Profile of Rekha Gupta: BJP’s Delhi CM

Background

• Born in Jind, Haryana.
• A dedicated RSS cadre for 32 years.
• Active in ABVP during her student days and served as President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) in the late 1990s.

Political career

• Twice elected as councillor from Uttari Pitampura in 2007 and 2012.
• Former General Secretary of BJP’s Delhi state unit.
• Member of BJP’s National Executive.
• Former General Secretary of Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha (Women’s Wing).

Historic election victory

• Contested from Shalimar Bagh in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.
• Defeated AAP’s Vandana Kumari by a margin of 29,595 votes.

Significance of her appointment

• The first woman BJP Chief Minister among the 21 BJP-ruled states.
• Known for grassroots engagement, organizational skills, and a focus on community development, women’s empowerment, and educational reforms.

Rekha Gupta’s rise as Delhi’s first woman BJP Chief Minister marks a new chapter in Indian politics, symbolizing women’s growing influence in governance and BJP’s strategic push to challenge opposition parties on multiple fronts.

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