The 50-year-old ABVP-groomed Rekha Gupta has outpaced party veterans like Parvesh Verma and Vijender Gupta in the race for Delhi Chief Minister. A direct pick of Amit Shah, she is a first-time MLA, which could make managing a state accustomed to freebies for the last decade a challenging task.
Despite several strong contenders for the top post, Rekha managed to push past political heavyweights. As internal conflicts intensified, the Home Minister ultimately put forward her name, shocking the party’s elite leadership. Here are some challenges Rekha is expected to face after taking the CM oath. The Shalimar Bagh legislator was named as CM after its legislature party meeting on Wednesday night. From managing finances and delivering on key election promises to cleaning the Yamuna, the BJP government will have its hands full as it dives into governance starting Thursday.
Fulfilling Promises/Maintaining Welfare Schemes
One of the BJP’s biggest election promises was providing ₹2,500 in financial aid to eligible women beneficiaries by March 8, International Women’s Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured during his rallies, “This is Modi’s guarantee… On March 8, women will start receiving money in their accounts.”
Now, the challenge for the new government is turning that promise into reality within a tight deadline. Setting up an efficient distribution system in such a short time won’t be easy. The pressure is on to move quickly with the upcoming budget, ensuring not just enough funds for this scheme but also for the ₹21,000 assistance pledged to pregnant women.
Quick implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme is another challenge Rekha is going to face in the ‘fulfilling the promise’ category. This was on top of the BJP government’s agenda. Rolling out the scheme won’t just benefit the people—it could also unlock much-needed central funding to upgrade Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure. The city’s healthcare gaps have been a growing concern, with the Delhi High Court repeatedly highlighting the issue in several hearings.
Maintaining Fiscal Stability
Arvind Kejriwal’s rise to power in Delhi was largely driven by AAP’s welfare schemes—free water, electricity, accessible healthcare through mohalla clinics, and a major push for better government schools. These initiatives struck a chord with voters, making AAP a tough act to follow.
Now, the BJP has put forward its own set of welfare promises in its Sankalp Patra (manifesto), signaling a similar approach. But for CM-designate Rekha Gupta, the real challenge lies in balancing these promises while keeping Delhi’s finances in check—a tricky task, given the fiscal strain such schemes can bring.
Clean Yamuna
Cleaning the Yamuna was another flagship initiative of the BJP, prominently highlighted throughout its election campaign. Launched on February 16, 2025, this ambitious plan sets out to revive the heavily polluted Yamuna within three years. The approach is clear and focused—cleaning up waste, tackling drains, and upgrading as well as building new sewage treatment plants to restore the river’s lost glory.
In 2015, the AAP had promised that the river would be clean enough to take a dip in within two years- this didn’t happen.
The challenge, however, is enormous in this area. Various studies state that the Yamuna picks up most of its pollutants as it flows through Delhi, with illegal industrial waste and untreated sewage from unauthorized colonies being the biggest culprits. To make matters worse, the river struggles with low water levels during non-monsoon months, making pollution even more concentrated. With these challenges stacking up, the new government has a massive cleanup job on its hands.
Air Pollution Crisis
Delhi’s choking air pollution remains a pressing issue, especially in winter when smog blankets the city due to stubble burning, traffic emissions, and industrial waste. Year after year, residents struggle with hazardous air, making clean air a top priority for the new BJP government.
To make a real difference, the government will need to push for long-term solutions—expanding green spaces, promoting electric vehicles, and fixing the city’s waste management system. The challenge is huge, but so is the need for change.
Water And Power Supply Issues
Water shortages and erratic supply remain a daily struggle for many in Delhi, made worse by the worsening pollution in the Yamuna. For countless households, access to clean drinking water is still a challenge, adding to their frustrations.
Ahead of the elections, the BJP promised to change this—vowing to provide clean drinking water and an uninterrupted power supply. Now, with expectations running high, delivering on these promises will be a key test for the new government.
Maintaining Balance Between New Face And Old Guard
Rekha Gupta’s rise to the top came as an unexpected twist within the BJP, making her the party’s dark horse in Delhi politics. But her appointment as Chief Minister hasn’t exactly thrilled the party’s old guard—leaders like the Guptas and Vermas (Parvesh and Vijender), who have been loyal BJP veterans, were overlooked in favor of a first-time MLA.
Now, the real challenge for CM-designate Rekha Gupta is navigating this power shift. She’ll have to carefully balance the influence of both new and veteran leaders while keeping party unity intact and preventing any signs of dissent from boiling over.
