Thu Feb 20 16:24:42 UTC 2025: ## Surprise Choice: Rekha Gupta to be Delhi’s Next Chief Minister
**NEW DELHI, February 19, 2025** – Rekha Gupta, a debutante MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been appointed as Delhi’s next Chief Minister, marking a surprising turn of events following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) return to power after a 26-year absence. The announcement came Wednesday evening after a Delhi legislative party meeting at the BJP’s national headquarters.
Gupta, 50, will become the fourth woman to hold the chief ministerial post in the state. Her selection came as a surprise, as she beat out several other prominent contenders, including Parvesh Sahib Singh, Vijender Gupta, and Satish Upadhyay. She secured the position with nine proposals in her favor, all approved by consensus, according to BJP sources.
The BJP won 48 out of 70 seats in the recent Delhi Assembly elections. Gupta, a three-time Municipal Councillor with a background in student politics and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), defeated three-term AAP MLA Bandana Kumari by a significant margin.
Following the legislative party meeting, Gupta, along with senior BJP leaders, met with Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to stake her claim to form the government. Her swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for February 20 at Ramlila Maidan, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking officials in attendance.
In a statement to the media, Gupta expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to work for the welfare and development of Delhi’s citizens. Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal extended his congratulations via X, expressing hope that Gupta will fulfill her promises and offering his support for the city’s development.
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