NEW DELHI: Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dixit, Atishi and now Rekha Gupta. On Wednesday, shattering all media predictions, BJP announced Rekha as the new chief minister of Delhi. Political analysts view this selection as BJP’s ambitious plan to transform the national capital. The last time BJP ruled Delhi in 1998, they had a woman chief minister. Sushma Swaraj ruled for 52 days and had to pass the baton to Congress’ Sheila Dixit, who ruled for the next 13 years.
27 years after Sushma stepped down, BJP has appointed Rekha Gupta as the new chief minister of New Delhi, which speaks volumes of the party’s intentions to trade class voters. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP commanded massive support among women sections in the national capital. To break AAP’s fiefdom of women voter base, BJP has made a masterstroke move to pick a local woman leader to helm affairs in Delhi.
Bania community, age just 50, high organizational skills and strong RSS linkage were enough for leadership to opt for Rekha as the new CM of Delhi.
Hundreds of BJP workers gathered in front of the BJP state office at Pandit Pant Marg where the assembly party meeting was held yesterday. Immediately after rumours spread about Rekha getting selected for the CM post, supporters thronged to her residence in Shalimar Bagh. The announcement was followed by bursting of firecrackers and dancing to the accompaniment of musical instruments.
The nomination of Rekha Gupta for the post of Chief Minister by Vijender Gupta and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma was unanimously approved. It is indicated that the seven-member cabinet will ensure representation of Bania, Jats, Purvanchalis, Punjabis, Brahmins and Dalits.