Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Faces Challenges Ahead

Rekha Gupta, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister of Delhi, has been congratulated by Congress leader Alka Lamba, who shared a 30-year-old photo of the two women from their university days, highlighting their past collaboration on women's safety and security issues despite ideological differences.

Gupta, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was sworn in on February 20, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the party in the capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in her ability to work towards Delhi's development. Gupta's career in politics began in student politics, and she has a law degree, which is expected to serve her well in her new role.

However, Gupta faces significant challenges, including addressing Delhi's severe air pollution problem, which is blamed for thousands of premature deaths annually. The BJP's victory in the February 5 polls ousted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had governed Delhi for much of the past decade. The AAP has been a prominent critic of Modi, and Gupta's government will need to navigate this complex political landscape.

In her first Cabinet meeting, Gupta passed two agenda items, but did not include a proposal to provide ₹2,500 monthly financial assistance to women, a pre-poll promise made by the BJP. This decision has been criticized by AAP leader Atishi, who accused the BJP of "breaking its promise" and claimed that the party has "made up its mind to cheat the people". Instead, the government decided to implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme and table the CAG reports on the previous AAP administration's performance.

As Gupta navigates the complexities of her new role, she will need to balance the expectations of her party and the people of Delhi, while addressing the significant challenges facing the city. Her ability to work effectively and make good on the BJP's promises will be closely watched in the coming months.