BJP Returns to Power: Rekha Gupta Tapped as New Delhi CM
After nearly three decades in the opposition, the BJP is making a dramatic comeback in the capital, coming out on top in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. In a move that surprised some and energized others, the party picked first-time MLA Rekha Gupta as its chief ministerial face. Gupta’s fresh take and the party’s overwhelming Delhi elections victory have turned the city’s politics upside down.
The numbers paint a clear picture. Out of 70 seats, BJP bagged 48—a thumping two-thirds majority. The long-dominant AAP was left reeling, with its tally crashing from 62 just five years ago to a modest 22. Many are pointing to widespread frustration with AAP’s administration, echoing in neighborhoods across South, East, and even Central Delhi.
Changing of the Guard—and the Game
Gupta, who represents Shalimar Bagh, made headlines by ousting none other than Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency. Serving as a fresh face, she was unanimously chosen as BJP’s legislative leader at a party meeting on February 20. Her first order of business: visit Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to formally stake a claim to form the new government. With this, the stage is set for BJP’s long-awaited return to power after 27 years in the cold.
But it wasn’t just the BJP celebrating. Behind closed doors, AAP leaders, including Delhi President Gopal Rai, were vocal in their criticism. Rai raised eyebrows, openly questioning the Lt Governor’s sudden involvement in the city’s affairs—especially when it came to initiatives like cleaning up the Yamuna river. "Doesn’t a city run better with its elected government in charge, not the LG?" he asked, shining a light on the ever-present tug-of-war between state and federal powers in Delhi.
Gupta, for her part, is striking a different tone. She stressed unity among BJP leaders, highlighting, “We are Team Modi... working as a unit towards Viksit Delhi.” This isn’t just talk—her choice to skip living in the official 'sheeshmahal' residence was a clear signal that she’s out to avoid the same elitism accusations that dogged her predecessors. It’s a calculated move in a city sensitive to both symbolism and substance.
The BJP’s campaign, meanwhile, focused hard on AAP’s weaknesses. Pollution got worse, corruption scandals rocked the administration, and debates over everything from power to water subsidies dominated public chatter for months before the vote. Many Delhiites felt AAP’s governance model, once hailed as a revolution, got mired in infighting and controversial ‘freebie’ programs. Even the once-clear lines between state and federal authority felt blurred, with power struggles moving from public debates straight into policy deadlock.
The city will now watch closely as Rekha Gupta and her team take the reins, promising to deliver on bold commitments and shift Delhi’s governance style. If the BJP’s momentum holds, this win could spark yet another round of changes well beyond the capital's borders, rewriting what it means to govern in India’s biggest cities.
