New Delhi, February 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the next Delhi Chief Minister today evening. The saffron party's leadership appointed National Secretary Om Prakash Dhankar and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as central observers to supervise the selection of the CM. It was announced that Rekha Gupta will be the new Chief Minister of the National Capital. She will take oath as the new Delhi CM on Thursday (February 20) at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The mega event is set to be attended by all the BJP CMs in the country.
Amid reports of New Delhi MLA Parvesh Kumar getting sidelined in the race, BJP leader Rekha Gupta emerged as a strong frontrunner for the position.
(Photo Courtesy: X/@bidhlan)
Who Is Rekha Gupta?
Rekha Gupta is a senior BJP leader from Delhi, known for her extensive political career and student leadership. The 50-year old currently serves as the General Secretary of Delhi BJP and has previously been the National Vice President of BJP's Mahila Morcha, as per reports.
Gupta, a lawyer by profession, won the Shalimar Bhag (North-West) constituency in the 2025 Delhi Assembly Election, securing 68,200 votes.
Her political journey began with student politics. She served as President of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) from 1996 to 1997. She later transitioned into mainstream politics, winning the Delhi Councillor elections from Uttari Pitampura (Ward 54) in 2007 and securing re-election in 2012. She has also served as the Mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
According to a report by India Today, Gupta is a graduate of Daulat Ram College, Delhi, and has been actively involved in various initiatives led by the Delhi BJP. She could be a frontrunner for the CM's seat due to her experience as a former Mayor and the BJP’s potential preference for a woman CM.
While initial discussions took place earlier, the announcement for the new Delhi CM was delayed due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return from the US. The observers assessed the situation on the ground before deciding on the CM and six other ministers. However, reports suggests that unlike other states, Delhi may not have a Deputy CM.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place on February 20.
