Delhi News LIVE Updates: Inaugural session of Delhi Legislative Assembly from February 24, to end on Feb 27

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. This was Gupta's first reaction with the President and Vice President after being elected at the post.

The Congress ruled Delhi for 15 years and the AAP after that but both never addressed the issues of the people of Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday while stressing that her government passed the Ayushman Bharat scheme on its first day in office.

"Congress ruled Delhi for 15 years and after that it was the AAP... yet, they never addressed the issues of the people of Delhi. And now, just one day after we took office, they have started questioning our government," Gupta told reporters.

Highlighting her party's swift decision making, she stated, "We are the ones who passed the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in our very first cabinet meeting. We took oath and on the same day approved the scheme that AAP had stalled for years." She suggested that the two parties should focus on their own party issues. "Many of their members are ready to leave, and they are worried because we are committed to fulfilling all our promises." Gupta also claimed that the opposition was fearful of her government's transparency. (PTI)

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will hold a call with President Droupadi Murmu at 12:30 pm and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at 1 pm. The newly appointed Delhi CM is also scheduled to have a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the evening on Friday.

In an X post, BJP chief JP Nadda said, "Modi's guarantee means every guarantee will be fulfilled. I thanked the Delhi Government for the decision to implement the 'Ayushman Bharat Yojana' in the first cabinet meeting."

This decision came shortly after Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and the cabinet ministers were sworn in at the Ramlila Maidan on Thursday.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended congratulations to Rekha Gupta on her appointment as the Chief Minister of Delhi.

Adityanath, in a post on X, said the "double engine BJP government" would bring forward public welfare policies, ensure improved security, order and governance for the national capital.

"Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Rekha Gupta ji on taking oath as Chief Minister of Delhi!" he wrote.

Adityanath said he was confident that under Gupta's leadership Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, Delhi would reach new heights of development.

He said he could not attend Gupta's swearing-in ceremony as the state budget was presented in the assembly on Thursday. (PTI)

Rekha Gupta arrived at a hotel in Delhi for a meeting of all the CMs and Deputy CMs of the NDA government. Later in the day, she will attend a Delhi cabinet meeting and the Yamuna Aarti at 6 pm.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Thursday extended his best wishes to Delhi's newly elected Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

"Good luck to her (Delhi CM Rekha Gupta) and her entire cabinet. We hope that she will work well for Delhi. The manifesto prepared by the BJP is elaborate and can burden the Delhi government financially... We will say something in their favour or against them after observing their work for some time... We hope she works well for Delhi," he said.

The Delhi cabinet will meet later this evening to discuss urgent business in the national capital after forming government. A visit to Yamuna Ghat has also been scheduled.

BJP MLA elect Ravinder Indraj Singh and Kapil Mishra were sworn in as a cabinet ministers in the Delhi government at the Ramlila Maidan.

BJP leader Rekha Gupta took oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi, being the fourth woman to hold the post. Shortly after Gupta, party leaders Parvesh Verma and Ashish Soon were sworn in as cabinet ministers.

Senior NDA leaders Pawan Kalyan, Ajit Pawar, Devender Fadnavis, Eknath Shinder, Chandra Babu Naidu, Praful Patel, Dharmendra Pradhan have arrived for the swearing in ceremony of the Delhi CM at the Ramlila Maidan.

The ceremony is expected to start in a few minutes, according to BJP's social media.

Rajya Sabha MP from AAP Swati Maliwal arrived at the Ramlila Maidan for the swearing in ceremony of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The ceremony will start around noon, the Bharatiya Janata Party had said earlier.

Kapil Mishra, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other cabinet ministers arrived at the Ramlila Maidan for the oath-taking ceremony.

Six cabinet ministers from the BJP will take oath alongside Delhi CM-designate Rekha Gupta today.

Delhi CM-designate Rekha Gupta's son, Nikunj said, "It is good that a woman has been given the opportunity to be the CM. We are confident that she will be able to shoulder her responsibility very well. Her 30-year-long hard work has proved to be successful. She has worked hard and did all this on her own. She started from DUSU...We thank PM Modi, party and everyone for this opportunity to her..."

BJP MLA elect Ashish Sood, who is a part of Delhi's cabinet, says, "We have resolved to make Delhi a 'Viksit Delhi'...She is a local leader and has worked for Delhi in various capacities. Those who have looted Delhi will have to pay the price for it."

BJP MLA from Rohini, Vijender Gupta, is set to be the new Speaker of Delhi Assembly, according to party sources.

It is likely that Mohan Singh Bisht will be the Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.

Manish Gupta, CM-designate Rekha Gupta's husband expressed his happiness over the Bharatiya Janata Party's decision to appoint her the chief minister of Delhi.

While speaking to reporters, Manish Gupta said, "We never thought that she (Rekha Gupta) would become the Chief Minister of Delhi. It seems like a miracle... It is a matter of happiness for us that the party has given us so much respect."

Delhi Chief Minister-designate Rekha Gupta on Thursday assured that the BJP government would fulfill its poll promise on providing Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women.

The first installment of the monthly support would be credited to their accounts by March 8, Gupta said.

Ahead of the polls, the BJP's manifesto aimed to outdo the Aam Aadmi Party's announcement of Rs 2,100 monthly support if it came to power.

Gupta, who was elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party on Wednesday, emphasised that delivering on their promises is her top priority.

"Fulfilling the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the responsibility of all 48 BJP MLAs in the capital. We will definitely fulfill all our promises, including financial support for women. Women will 100 per cent get monetary support into their accounts by March 8," she said. March 8 is observed as the International Women's Day. (PTI)

Soon after BJP leader Rekha Jha was announced as the Chief Minister of Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X, "Many congratulations and best wishes to Smt. @gupta_rekha ji on being elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party in Delhi. I firmly believe that under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and with his efforts, Delhi will become the developed capital ('Viksit Rajdhani') of developed India ('Viksit Bharat')."

Outgoing Delhi CM Atishi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday congratulated BJP leader Rekha Gupta on being selected as the new chief minister and expressed hope that she would fulfil all promises made during the election campaign.

Gupta (50) was chosen as the Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly at the BJP legislature party meeting on Wednesday night. The party has returned to power in Delhi after over 26 years, ending the 10-year rule of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.

Atishi expressed hope that Gupta would fulfil the promises made by the BJP during the election campaign.

"I want to tell the new CM that AAP will always stand with her for the development of Delhi. It's good news that a woman is going to lead a state. At present, barring Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, no woman is a chief minister. I also hope that Rekha Gupta will soon fulfil the BJP's promise of providing Rs 2,500 to women," she said.

Kejriwal, in a post on X, extended his best wishes to Gupta.

"Many congratulations to Rekha Gupta ji on becoming the Chief Minister of Delhi. I hope she will fulfil all the promises made to the people of Delhi. We will support her in every effort for the development and welfare of the people of Delhi," he wrote. (PTI)

More than 25,000 security personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Delhi for Thursday's oath ceremony of the new chief minister at Ramlila Maidan, a police officer said.

The ceremony is likely to be attended by top party leaders, including chief ministers from BJP-governed states.

"We have deployed more than 25,000 police personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces," the officer said and added "robust" security arrangements were in place to maintain law and order.

"More than 5,000 police and paramilitary force personnel are deployed in and around Ramlila Maidan. Around 2,500 strategic points were identified where heavy deployment has already been made," he added. (PTI)

BJP leaders Parvesh Verma (New Delhi), Manjinder Singh Sirsa (Rajouri Garden), Ravindra Kumar Indraj (Bawana), Kapil Mishra (Karawal Nagar), Ashish Sood (Janakpuri), Pankaj Kumar Singh (Vikaspuri) have been appointed as cabinet ministers in Delhi government.

They will take oath with CM-designate Rekha Gupta at the Ramlila Maidan today.