In a political shakeup that has set Delhi abuzz, Rekha Gupta is poised to become the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) first Chief Minister in the capital after a 27-year hiatus. Parvesh Verma will assume the role of Deputy Chief Minister, while the seasoned BJP leader Vijender Gupta, known for his resilience against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wave in 2015 and 2020, is tipped to take charge as the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.
Gupta’s ascension to the top post marks a historic moment for the BJP in Delhi, breaking a nearly three-decade drought in the power corridors of the national capital. The move is being hailed as a strategic masterstroke, aimed at revamping the party’s image and strengthening its foothold in a city where AAP has dominated for the past decade.
Parvesh Verma’s appointment as Deputy CM further reinforces BJP’s push for experienced leadership, given his political lineage and grassroots connect. However, it is the elevation of Vijender Gupta as Speaker that has raised quite a few eyebrows. Gupta, often regarded as the proverbial thorn in AAP’s side, has had his fair share of run-ins with the Kejriwal government. During the AAP regime, Gupta was frequently ejected from the assembly for his relentless questioning and fierce opposition.
Political observers view Gupta’s return to the assembly as Speaker as a poetic twist of fate. Those who once watched him being shown the door may now find themselves seeking his permission to speak. Irony, it seems, has a new address in Delhi politics.
Sources within the BJP claim that the leadership shuffle is part of a broader strategy to revitalize the party’s governance narrative in the national capital. Rekha Gupta is expected to bring a fresh perspective, while Verma’s administrative experience and Gupta’s legislative acumen could collectively steer BJP towards a more assertive role in Delhi.
As the capital braces for this political transition, many are left wondering how Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP government will respond. For now, all eyes are on the assembly, where a new chapter in Delhi’s political saga is about to unfold.