1 day ago
Last Updated:May 30, 2025, 07:00 IST
Rekha Gupta has a clear mandate: to deliver what the Arvind Kejriwal government could not
Rekha Gupta knows she cannot afford any missteps. File pic/PTI
The first thing that strikes you about the new Delhi government under chief minister Rekha Gupta is the openness and accessibility of her office. This is in stark contrast to the Arvind Kejriwal years, during which entry was highly restricted unless permitted by the then-CM. There are numerous accounts of how crores were spent on upgrading his office, which very few people ever saw.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has emphasised this difference in its battle for Delhi, claiming that, unlike the Kejriwal government, which the BJP accuses of secrecy and withholding information from the people, the Rekha Gupta administration promises to be transparent.
Rekha Gupta has a clear mandate: to deliver what the Kejriwal government could not. However, she has limited time to achieve this. Despite complaints from many Delhi BJP members about the city’s decline since the Sheila Dikshit era, they are aware that the February 2025 election was won on Narendra Modi’s promise to serve the city well. Therefore, the BJP government needs to work diligently to meet expectations.
From day one, the new CM, who has now completed 100 days in office, has taken a hands-on approach. The BJP aims to showcase her as a “visible CM" in contrast to a “PR-driven CM office". She has made unannounced visits to government-run schools to address water shortages, inspected streets to ensure potholes are filled, visited LNJP Hospital to guarantee immediate patient care and ICU admissions, and overseen the cleaning of the Yamuna River. Rekha Gupta knows she cannot afford any missteps.
Significantly, the CM received broad support across different voter bases, including the middle and lower classes. For instance, she opposed the demolition of slums and instead advocated for providing better amenities, arguing that slum dwellers should not be seen as burdensome.
It is crucial for the Delhi government to deliver results quickly. As the national capital, Delhi is a pivotal battleground that the BJP won on the promise of a “double-engine government", largely thanks to the PM’s influence during the campaign. Rekha Gupta is aware that her challenge is to win over the hearts of Delhi’s residents within the next 100 days.
Location : First Published:News cities 100 Days At Delhi's Helm: Rekha Gupta Draws The Line Between 'Visible' CM And A 'PR-Driven' One
