NEW DELHI: A senior BJP leader, speaking to a newspaper on Monday, made a cryptic prediction about the Delhi Chief Minister, stating, "Delhi me vikas ka ek naya ‘rekha’ kichna hai Prime Minister ko. Tum ek hundred rupee ke note pe likh ke rakh lo, yehi sahi hoga" (PM has to draw a new line of development in Delhi. You keep this written on a hundred rupee note, this will be true). The prognosis turned out to be accurate on Wednesday when the BJP legislators elected Rekha Gupta as their leader - and hence as the next CM - signalling that the party is pinning its hopes on her for a woman-led era of 'vikas' in the national capital.
Gupta’s name had been frequently discussed ever since the results were announced, marking the BJP's return to power in Delhi after nearly 27 years. Amit Shah, the BJP’s principal strategist, on Wednesday, expressed hope that "Rekha Gupta will work with dedication in the direction of the resolution taken by PM Narendra Modi ji to make Delhi one of the top capitals of the world." Gupta has been linked to the RSS.
Party sources said that her election was a significant message to Bihar, which is set to hold elections later this year. The BJP may now make Gupta a symbol of the party’s outreach to women as well as to the Vaishya community, which is an influential demographic although not the largest in terms of absolute numbers.
"Our party will make an impact amongst women voters in REKHA (Rajasthan, Eastern India, Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana, Assam, and other states, which have higher female voter turnout during elections)," wittily remarked a BJP functionary. On Gupta’s selection as Delhi CM, former police officer Kiran Bedi also commented, saying, "Delhi got Rekha Gupta as CM on the eve of Women’s Day month. It’s sending a very inclusive national message to the women of India as a whole."
BJP sources further explained that states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab—where women voters are increasingly active in politics—would benefit from the party’s decision to elect a woman as CM. Gupta has earned the respect of party MLAs and is known for her governance experience.
"She was found suited to the prerequisites of a Chief Minister, as the person must have the respect of the MLAs and be well regarded by all. She is also a good listener who listens to everyone, from the public to politicians," a BJP source shared, highlighting the factors that worked in her favour during the selection process. Gupta’s connection with the people and her notable performance as general secretary with the Mahila Morcha were also key considerations in her selection. Other contenders for the role, such as Parvesh Verma, Satish Upadhyay, Ashish Sood, Pawan Sharma and Shikha Roy were considered to have less experience than her.
Gupta, the Shalimar Bagh MLA, enjoys popularity across a range of communities, including Jats (10% of Delhi’s population), Vaishyas (8%), and others. "Gupta's influence will be a significant factor in Bihar, which has 6.11 crore women voters, Uttar Pradesh with 9.53 crore, and Punjab with 1.4 crore. These states are all set to go to the polls in the next two years, and the BJP will likely leverage her example as part of a broader campaign focused on women-led development," a senior leader involved in the strategy remarked.
