Rekha Gupta, a first-time BJP legislator, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, leading a seven-member cabinet. This milestone marks the BJP’s return to power in the national capital after 27 years.

Gupta, along with her six Cabinet colleagues, took the oath of office and secrecy from Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena during a grand ceremony at the historic Ram Lila Maidan. The event was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prominent BJP leaders, and NDA chief ministers.

The six ministers include: Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh. Kapil Mishra, newly elected from Karawal Nagar, previously served as a minister in the first Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government before resigning and joining the BJP following disputes with AAP leadership regarding corruption.

Rekha Gupta, a 50-year-old representative from Shalimar Bagh, becomes Delhi’s fourth woman Chief Minister, joining the ranks of Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Sheila Dikshit (Congress), and Atishi (AAP). Her election from the Bania community in Shalimar Bagh during the recent assembly elections underscores the party’s commitment to women’s empowerment and reflects Prime Minister Modi’s strategy of surprise appointments for chief ministers.

After the inauguration, PM Modi took to X to congratulate Gupta, stating, “Congratulations to Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji on taking oath as Delhi’s Chief Minister. She has risen from the grassroots, being active in campus politics, state organization, municipal administration, and now as an MLA and Chief Minister. I am confident she will work with full dedication for Delhi’s development. Best wishes for a fruitful tenure.”

He also congratulated the newly appointed ministers, expressing on social media, “Congratulations to Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Ji, Shri Ashish Sood Ji, Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa Ji, Shri Ravinder Indraj Singh Ji, Shri Kapil Mishra Ji, and Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh Ji on taking oath as Ministers in the Delhi Government. This team is a great blend of energy and experience, ensuring effective governance for Delhi. Best wishes to them.”

Verma, who triumphed over AAP leader Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, was seen as a prospective chief ministerial candidate. The son of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh, Verma now serves as a minister in the new administration.

Sirsa, who won in Rajouri Garden, also previously held this constituency in the 2017 Delhi by-elections. His website professes, “A committed Indian Sikh dedicated to my community, nation, and humanity.” He serves as BJP’s national secretary.

Sood, a prominent Punjabi representative of the BJP, achieved a significant victory in the Janakpuri constituency, defeating AAP’s Rajesh Rishi by 18,766 votes. With strong connections to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sood is acclaimed for his organizational skills and has held multiple key positions, including councillor and Leader of the House in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).

Ravinder Indraj Singh secured a notable win in the Bawana (SC) assembly seat, surpassing his opponent by more than 31,000 votes. His father was also an MLA from the Narela constituency, and Singh is recognized as a significant Dalit leader within the BJP’s Scheduled Caste Front.

Pankaj Singh is a dentist who has actively participated in Delhi’s political landscape, carrying out various responsibilities within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). His father, Raja Mohan Singh, previously served as an MCD commissioner, and Pankaj was a ward councillor before his election as an MLA.