LIVE: Delhi Cabinet portfolios: Rekha Gupta gets Finance; Ashish Sood gets Home
Pravesh Verma gets Public Works Department (PWD) and Irrigation and Flood Control Department
BJP's debutant legislator Rekha Gupta was sworn in as Delhi chief minister on Thursday (February 20) in a grand show of strength that marks the party's return to power in the city after more than 26 years.
The ceremony at the historic Ramlila Ground was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top BJP brass and NDA chief ministers. Gupta is Delhi’s fourth woman chief minister. The 50-year-old MLA from Shalimar Bagh is also the only woman in the NDA team of chief ministers.
Gupta, 50, was chosen as Leader of the House in the newly constituted 8th Delhi Assembly, in a meeting of the BJP legislature party on Wednesday.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena invited Gupta to form the new government after she staked claim for it late Wednesday evening at Raj Niwas. She will become the ninth Chief Minister of Delhi after the administration of oath by the LG.
The six ministers who will be sworn in to Gupta’s cabinet are Parvesh Verma who defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat, Ashish Sood, Pankaj Singh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra and Ravinder Indraj.
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Live Updates
- 20 Feb 2025 3:17 AM GMT
Over 25,000 security personnel deployed for Delhi CM's oath ceremony
More than 25,000 security personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Delhi for Thursday's oath ceremony of the new chief minister at Ramlila Maidan, a police officer said.
The ceremony is likely to be attended by top party leaders, including chief ministers from BJP-governed states.
"We have deployed more than 25,000 police personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces," the officer said and added "robust" security arrangements were in place to maintain law and order.
"More than 5,000 police and paramilitary force personnel are deployed in and around Ramlila Maidan. Around 2,500 strategic points were identified where heavy deployment has already been made," he added.
First-time MLA Rekha Gupta will be the new chief minister of Delhi, capping 11 days of suspense over who would get the top post following the BJP's return to power after more than 26 years, ending the 10-year rule of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.
Gupta (50) was chosen as Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly at the BJP legislature party meeting late on Wednesday, senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad announced.
Gupta later met Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and staked claim to form the government.
Only authorised people will be allowed near the venue and a proper traffic plan has been chalked out, the police said.
Along with other emergency response teams, multiple layers of barricades will be set up to ensure the dignitaries' safety and security.
Around 50,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues and chief ministers of National Democratic Alliance-governed states, among others, are expected to attend the ceremony.
The police said commandos, quick reaction teams, PCR vans, and SWAT teams had been deployed at strategic locations while snipers were positioned at high-rise buildings nearby.
Every nook and cranny are being monitored through AI-based facial recognition CCTV cameras, they added.
- 20 Feb 2025 3:10 AM GMT
Rekha Gupta to be sworn in as Delhi CM today
Gupta, a first-time MLA will be sworn-in along with six cabinet ministers at 11 am today at Delhi’s Ramleela Ground. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena would administer them the oath of office.
- 19 Feb 2025 3:29 PM GMT
Newly-chosen Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP legislative party meeting on Wednesday | PTI
