(Image source from: Twitter.com/BJP4Delhi)
The newly formed BJP government in Delhi has taken office, with Rekha Gupta being sworn in as Chief Minister on Thursday. Having been in power for less than a day, the exchanges of words between her and her predecessor from the AAP, Atishi, have already commenced. On Friday morning, Gupta responded to criticisms from the AAP and also targeted the Congress, highlighting how the two parties governed for 13 and 15 years respectively and questioning their authority to challenge her government's performance after just one day. The new Chief Minister stated, "Instead of examining their own records, how can they question our efforts after just a single day? We convened a cabinet meeting right after our oath and successfully approved the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which had previously faced obstacles from the AAP."
She continued, "On our very first day, we delivered a benefit of 10 lakh rupees to the citizens of Delhi. The AAP has no standing to criticize us. Our administration will prioritize Delhi’s needs under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi... They should focus on their own party matters," Gupta remarked. As a first-time member of the Legislative Assembly from Shalimar Bagh and an unexpected choice for the Chief Minister position, Gupta also criticized the AAP regarding the election outcome and cautioned them to prepare for the upcoming reports from the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India concerning alleged corruption in their governance. This back-and-forth follows Atishi’s accusation that the BJP had "misled the people of Delhi from the very first day." She referred to the BJP's pre-election pledge about implementing direct cash transfers for women in Delhi, claiming that although the party promised to fulfill this in their inaugural cabinet meeting, it had not been executed.
15 साल कांग्रेस का राज रहा 13 साल AAP ने राज किया, अपना कार्यकाल देखें हमें 1 दिन में प्रश्न करने वाले ये कौन लोग हैं? जिन्होंने दिल्ली का सर्वनाश कर दिया, जनता के अधिकारों को हनन किया और काम नहीं किया वे एक दिन में हम पर उंगली उठाएंगे? ये हम हैं जिन्होंने पहले दिन शपथ लेते ही,… pic.twitter.com/0lTpfX16Qi
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) February 21, 2025
"Prior to the elections, both PM Modi and other BJP leaders committed to introducing a scheme granting 2,500 rupees monthly to every woman in Delhi during the first cabinet meeting. However, no such decision was made today," she stated. Atishi also criticized Gupta for not delivering on her promises to the female electorate, a demographic that analysts believe played a significant role in the BJP's recent electoral triumph on February 5. All three major parties—BJP, AAP, and Congress—had dedicated sections in their manifestos focusing on financial support for women voters during this election.
With these commitments bolstering their campaign, the BJP achieved a substantial victory, securing 48 out of 70 Assembly seats in Delhi. In contrast, in the two preceding elections, the party had only managed to win 11 seats. The AAP, which had previously dominated with 67 and 62 seats in those elections, was only able to obtain 22 this time. The Congress faced defeat for the third consecutive Assembly election in Delhi. Following her swearing-in ceremony on Thursday evening, Gupta convened her first meeting with her six-member cabinet, where they approved the implementation of the central government's flagship health insurance program, Ayushman Bharat, which had previously been contested by the AAP in Delhi.
