Why BJP Chose Rekha Gupta Over Parvesh Verma for Delhi CM?

Rekha Gupta, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Shalimar Bagh, took oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi in a lavish ceremony held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gupta was 50 years old when she was selected to head BJP’s first government in Delhi after 27 years, preceding other prominent leaders like Parvesh Verma, Vijender Gupta, and Ashish Sood.

Reasons behind the Choice of Rekha Gupta:

Women Voter Outreach

Gupta’s appointment reinforces the BJP strategy to secure women voters’ loyalty, a determinative factor for its victory at the polls. The BJP manifesto, ‘Sankalp Patra,’ had committed a woman-oriented programme, including financial support of Rs. 2,500 per month to women. The choice of Gupta reflects the effort of the party to break a perception that BJP only caters to women voters but never accommodates them into leadership roles. Gupta becomes only the second woman Chief Minister in the country, after TMC’s Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal.

Consolidating the Trader Community

Gupta, being a Baniya community (largest group of traders) member, has been viewed as an attempt by the party to strengthen its rapport with this prominent segment further. “Baniyas have long been the back support of BJP’s Delhi branch,” a leader in BJP recounted with Hindustan Times. The party assumes Gupta’s new position will provide more strength to its long relationship with the group, which since the Vajpayee-Advani regime has remained its prominent voter support.

Rewarding Grassroots Leaders

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Gupta on the assumption of her new office, admiring her progression from grass-roots politics to where she stands today. He posted on X, “Congratulations to Smt. Rekha Gupta Ji on taking oath as Delhi’s Chief Minister. She has grown up from the grassroots, engaged in campus politics, state organization, municipal government, and now MLA and Chief Minister too.” I have no doubt she will serve Delhi’s growth with all her energy. I wish her all the best for a productive term.”

Gupta’s elevation is a reflection of BJP’s policy of encouraging youthful, indigenous leaders, defying the impression that the party prefers outsiders at the leadership level.

In short, Rekha Gupta’s appointment to the CM position is a calculated step by the BJP to expand its reach among women voters, further consolidate its support base among traders, and highlight its commitment to developing homegrown leadership from within party ranks.