By appointing Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA, as the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the BJP leadership has adhered to a strategy established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah nearly a decade ago. Their preference has been for relatively younger leaders in their 40s or 50s, individuals deeply committed to the party's ideology, with a strong organizational background and the ability to govern effectively for the long haul.

Rekha Gupta presents herself as an approachable, warm personality, without an air of superiority despite the key positions she has held, including her current role as Chief Minister. Although she may not have been as widely recognized as some of her colleagues in the party or assembly, her political journey and leadership skills are well regarded. Having begun her career in student politics, she first gained recognition in 1995 when she was elected General Secretary of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) as an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) nominee, the student wing of the RSS. However, her path to success was not without setbacks—she faced defeats in the 2015 assembly election and the mayoral election, both against AAP candidates.

Despite these challenges, she remained steadfast and continued to work diligently, serving as Chairperson of multiple committees in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Vice President of the BJP's National Mahila Morcha, and General Secretary of the party’s Delhi unit. Her perseverance paid off when she secured victory in the 2025 assembly election with a margin of nearly 30,000 votes—a significant achievement by Delhi's electoral standards.

Rekha Gupta has been widely praised as a strong and uncontroversial choice for the role, which is rare in contemporary politics. She carries no political baggage despite her three-decade-long career, and her background as a woman and a member of the Vaishya community—both strong BJP support bases—adds to her appeal.Her leadership style appears to be one of composure and consensus-building, contrasting with the confrontational approach seen during the Aam Aadmi Party's rule under Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi. If Delhi voters were seeking a change, she is now the face of that transformation.

Gupta has put together a well-rounded cabinet, including Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, Ashish Sood, Majinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra, Ravindra Indraj Singh, and Pankaj Kumar Singh, each representing different regions and communities within Delhi. These individuals have already established themselves as capable leaders in their own right.The BJP’s vision for governance under the new administration was outlined by Prime Minister Modi during his speech at the party's national headquarters on March 8, following the election results. One of the most anticipated shifts is the resolution of the ongoing tensions between the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister—a frequent issue during AAP’s decade in power. With the BJP now governing both the Centre and the capital, a more cooperative approach is expected to improve governance.

Even before the new government officially took charge, initiatives such as the cleaning of the Yamuna River were already underway, with images of the efforts circulating widely. Additionally, work on repairing damaged roads has commenced in several parts of the city.As part of her initial actions, Rekha Gupta fulfilled a key promise made by PM Modi by ensuring that the first installment of ₹2,500 in monthly financial assistance reached eligible women by March 8, International Women’s Day.She now faces both a challenge and an opportunity—to leverage the support of the Modi government at the Centre to transform Delhi into a model city with improved sanitation, infrastructure, and governance.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from PTI.