India's ruling party takes control of capital as chief minister sworn in

Rekha Gupta was sworn in Thursday as Delhi’s chief minister, following a landslide election victory that gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) control of the capital’s legislature for the first time in 27 years.

Gupta, 50, is the fourth woman to lead the city of over 30 million people. A law graduate with a background in student politics, she was selected by party members late Wednesday to succeed outgoing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office,” Gupta said while taking the oath in front of cheering supporters.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's Rekha Gupta signs the oath of office as she is sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi at the Ramlila grounds in New Delhi, India, February 20, 2025.Reuters

The BJP’s victory is seen as a significant boost for Modi, who began his third term in office last year but has faced criticism over coalition reliance. The win also marks the end of Kejriwal’s nearly decade-long rule with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Kejriwal, once known as an anti-corruption crusader, was jailed last year for alleged kickbacks to liquor licensing. He denies the charges, calling them a political attack by the Modi administration.

Gupta now faces one of Delhi’s most pressing issues: hazardous air pollution that blankets the city for months each year.

New Delhi is regularly ranked as the world’s worst capital for air quality, with pollution blamed for thousands of premature deaths annually. Despite the severity, none of the leading parties centered the health crisis in their election campaigns.