RThe first time MLA, Ekha Gupta, did not figure as a potential chief minister when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Delhi Assembly elections after 26 years in February. But now, after more than 100 days in the hot seat, Ms. Gupta is gradually sealing the rule in the capital city, and is making a place for herself in a high male-dominated party.
Ms. Gupta, who launched her political career as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad at Delhi University in 1992, organizes 10 portfolio including revenue and finance. In comparison, former Chief Minister of AAM AADMI Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal organized only water portfolio for about two and a half years during his tenure from 2015 to 2024.
A colleague of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, “From the first day, she is going on a field visit to understand the ground realities. She also held separate review meetings of all departments.”
Ms. Gupta also visits the field of departments which are ruled by other ministers, possibly to establish that she is in charge. An official said that when he started, she sometimes held “12–14 meetings and events” in a day. But the frequency of these has reduced, the official said.
Ms. Gupta continues to stay in her house in Shalimar Bagh instead of going to a government bungalow in Central Delhi. She holds public meetings (Jan Sunveai) Several mornings at home, and people with complaints get in line outside.
Compared to the hostile relations between the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and under the leadership of the Government of Delhi, in the past, there is now a cordial relationship between the two. In March, Chief Minister Gupta announced the annual budget of 1 lakh crore in the history of Delhi, as the central government promised more financial assistance. An official said that apart from an increase in funds, the Center is also helping in the schemes of Delhi government. They have held meetings on cleaning the Yamuna River, and the Ministry of Home Affairs has brought everyone to the table to find solutions.
Ms. Gupta has slowly become a strict administrator, the authorities saw. “Earlier this month, Delhi had a serious waterfall. During a meeting with the department heads of various agencies, they pulled senior officials,” said an official.
The official said that at the beginning of his tenure, Ms. Gupta often looked “weak” during meetings. “But she will still try widely of various issues and give priority to tasks. She is clear. But she knows that she has very little time to prove herself because all other ministers are also his contestants in a way.”
An official said that when Mr. Kejriwal did most of the work from his camp office in civil lines, Mr. Gupta comes to the Secretariat almost every day except Sunday. The official also said that the functioning of the CMO has changed under Ms. Gupta. The files of ministers on policy decisions come to the CMO, and a brief is made and the Chief Minister is also placed in the departments of the concerned central government for further technical assistance. The official said, “This is done by Deputy Secretaries and Joint Secretaries in CMO. There was no coordination under AAP.” Ms. Gupta is also driving verification to check the beneficiaries of various schemes.
The Chief Minister is also facing many challenges. It is easy to solve the problems of inheritance such as urban infrastructural issues, air pollution, or a polluted Yamuna River. During the first 100 days, there have also been various protests. There is increasing resentment over the increase in arbitrary fees in private schools. Slum residents have stated that they have not been provided in-situ rehabilitation, as promised. People have also complained of bitterness about electricity cuts and increase in electricity fees.
Being the Chief Minister, when other major faces in the party are also not easy. Sources said that many times, there have been disagreements on who is the credit for the work done by various departments. However, with the BJP coming to power in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi last month, the ‘double engine’ government has given Ms. Gupta a chance to work more basically for the people of Delhi.
nikhil.m@thehindu.co.in
Published – June 04, 2025 01:45 AM IST