The newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, will take her oath today in a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan. Expected to be a notable event, it will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues, and chief ministers from BJP-governed states, attracting around 50,000 attendees. However, Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh and Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam will not be able to attend.
Firstly, let's discuss CM Yogi Adityanath's absence. Today, the budget for Uttar Pradesh will be presented in the Legislative Assembly, which is why CM Yogi will remain in his state. Scheduled for presentation at 11 AM, the budget for the next financial year (2025-26) is predicted to be around seven and a half lakh crores. Discussions on the budget will follow on February 24, 25, 27, and 28. The Uttar Pradesh budget session began on February 18 (Tuesday).
Similarly, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will also not attend the swearing-in of Delhi's newly elected Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The ongoing budget session in Assam prevents CM Himanta from traveling to Delhi today.
Notable Figures to Attend the Ceremony
The swearing-in ceremony at Ramlila Maidan will include PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Ministers, and state chief ministers from BJP and NDA-ruled areas. Over 50,000 attendees are expected, necessitating strong security measures. More than 25,000 security personnel will be deployed across Central, North, and New Delhi areas for the event.
Rekha Gupta: Only the Second Female CM in Country Currently
Rekha Gupta defeated Aam Aadmi Party's Vandana Kumari by more than 29,000 votes in Shalimar Bagh, becoming a first-time legislator. She will be Delhi's fourth female Chief Minister, following Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Sheila Dikshit (Congress), and Atishi (Aam Aadmi Party). Among BJP or aligned governments, she stands as the sole female Chief Minister and nationwide, following Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), the second female holding such a position.
