Rekha Gupta named next Delhi CM, Parvesh Verma to be Deputy

Rekha Gupta, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been elected as the next Chief Minister of Delhi, with New Delhi MLA Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma appointed as Deputy Chief Minister. The decision was finalized during a BJP legislature party meeting, where all 48 newly elected MLAs unanimously chose Gupta. The selection process was overseen by central observers Ravi Shankar Prasad and OP Dhankar, following discussions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Gupta will be the fourth woman to hold the office after Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi.

Gupta, a first-time MLA and former Deputy Mayor of Delhi, expressed her gratitude to the party leadership, stating, "I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership for trusting me and entrusting me with the responsibility of the Chief Minister's post." She added that she is committed to working with “honesty, integrity, and dedication” for the welfare and development of Delhi’s citizens. Gupta secured victory in the elections by defeating AAP’s Bandana Kumari in the Shalimar Bagh constituency.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday at 11 AM, with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena administering the oath. The event is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President JP Nadda, senior ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, along with chief ministers from BJP-ruled states. Security arrangements have been heightened, with over 25,000 police personnel, paramilitary forces, quick response teams, and AI-powered facial recognition CCTV cameras deployed across central and north Delhi.

The BJP's return to power in Delhi comes after 26 years, following its victory in the February 5 assembly elections. The party secured 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP won 21, marking the end of its decade-long governance in the capital. Congress, which once dominated Delhi politics, failed to secure a single seat for the third consecutive election. The BJP’s vote share stood at 45.8 percent, surpassing AAP’s 43.8 percent, while Congress saw a slight increase from 4.3 percent in 2020 to 6.4 percent this time.

Key contenders for the chief ministerial post included Parvesh Verma, former Delhi BJP presidents Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay, and leaders like Pawan Sharma, Ashish Sood, and Shikha Rai. However, Gupta emerged as the unanimous choice. The oath-taking ceremony will also include the swearing-in of six cabinet ministers, with the full council of ministers expected to be announced soon.