As Rekha Gupta Takes Delhi CM Oath, Congress Points To Parvesh Verma's 'Long Face'

First-time BJP MLA Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Delhi Chief Minister at the Ramlila Maidan on February 20. Six other MLAs were sworn in as part of the Delhi cabinet.

Congress leader Alka Lamba's (R) remarks came as BJP MLA Rekha Gupta (L) was sworn in as the Delhi Chief Minister.

Source : PTI

Delhi got its fourth woman Chief Minister today as BJP MLA Rekha Gupta took oath at a grand swearing-in ceremony at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital. Amid this, Congress leader Alka Lamba congratulated the newly-elected CM but pointed at the "long-faced" Parvesh Verma, whose name also surfaced amongst the front runners for the post. She also called Gupta "aggressive" as she cited a purported view of the former councillor, wherein she could be allegedly seen damaging government property. 

Lamba recalled winning the Delhi University elections and taking oath alongside Gupta in 1995 as she extended her best wishes to the newly-elected Delhi CM. However, she also stressed that they have continued to share different ideologies since the beginning, but worked for the university at the time despite their differences.

"We both won the elections for President and Secretary together in DU. We always had an ideological battle with her. Our ideologies were different then and still are, but we worked a lot for the university in that one year," she said.

Shortly after Gupta was named as the Delhi CM, Lamba had also shared a post on X with a "memorable photo from 1995" of the two leaders when they took oath together. 

1995 की यह यादगार तस्वीर - जब मैंने और रेखा गुप्ता ने एक साथ शपथ ग्रहण की थी-
मैंने @nsui से दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय छात्र संघ (DUSU) #अध्यक्ष पद पर जीत हासिल की थी और रेखा ने #ABVP से #महासचिव पद पर जीत हासिल की थी- रेखा गुप्ता को बधाई और शुभकामनाएँ.
दिल्ली को चौथी महिला… pic.twitter.com/csM1Rmwu9y

— Alka Lamba 🇮🇳 (@LambaAlka) February 19, 2025

'I Advise Her To Control Her Agression'

Lamba then went on to mention a video in which she said Gupta, who has been a three-time councillor, broke the mic and dais, damaging government property as a councillor. Calling her "aggressive", she said the BJP leader had always been like that, and that "attitude was visible in that video as well". 

The Congress leader advised the newly-elected Delhi CM to remain calm and control her aggression. "Congratulations to her, but if I have to corner her, I will," she said. 

दिल्ली #BJP महासचिव और #भाजपा महिला मोर्चा की राष्ट्रीय उपाध्यक्ष #RekhaGupta में #दिल्ली का #मुख्यमंत्री बनने के सारे गुण मौजूद है

वो गालीबाज है
डार्क कामेडी करती है
मारपीट - तोड़फोड़ भी कर सकती है#Delhi की जनता को और क्या चाहिए🙏#DelhiChiefMinister pic.twitter.com/4elbtgmQ6m pic.twitter.com/uYvD5TtHDi

— मृगांका सिंह (Political Critic and Writer) (@reach2msingh) February 19, 2025

"Right now, the Prime Minister, Home Minister, LG, and Police—all are in their favor, so they will have to work for Delhi. And if there are any shortcomings, we will hold them accountable," Lamba added.

The Congress leader, who contested the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections against former Delhi CM Atishi from the Kalkaji seat, further remarked that it would take time for Gupta to understand Delhi as she became an MLA for the first time and directly became the CM.

Rekha Gupta contested the Delhi polls from the Shalimar Bagh seat. She defeated AAP candidate Bandana Kumari by a margin of around 30,000 votes. 

'Parvesh Verma Looked Disappointed'

Alka Lamba also expressed hope that the newly-elected Delhi cabinet and CM Rekha Gupta would work for the safety of women in the national capital. She further said Parvesh Verma looked disappointed and had a long-face due to the decision taken by BJP high command.

"Parvesh Verma looked disappointed. Vijender Gupta, you have been fighting against the government for the past ten years—where are you now?  This government will need experience," she remarked.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Alka Lamba says, "My greetings to the new Delhi CM Rekha Gupta... I went into nostalgia when her name was announced... We always had an ideological battle with her... The safety of our daughters is the main concern in Delhi; I hope she works on… pic.twitter.com/NY433rwjBv

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2025

Rekha Gupta was administered oath by Delhi LG VK Saxena. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, and Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Dharmendra Pradhan. Several CMs, including Chandrababu Naidu, and Mohan Yadav also attended the oath-taking ceremony.