New Delhi: Less than 24 hours into her tenure as Delhi’s Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta has hit back at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for criticizing her administration on its first day. Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, defended her government’s immediate actions, including clearing the stalled Ayushman Bharat scheme, and accused AAP of failing Delhi during its 13-year rule.
Addressing the media on Friday, Gupta dismissed AAP’s allegations, asserting that her government had already delivered benefits, including ₹10 lakh in healthcare coverage for Delhi residents. She emphasized that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would now focus on Delhi’s governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
AAP leader Atishi, in a press conference on Thursday, accused the BJP of “deceiving Delhiites” by not fulfilling its poll promise of a ₹2,500 monthly cash transfer to women in its first cabinet meeting. Gupta, however, countered that AAP should focus on its own shortcomings, hinting at upcoming Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) reports on alleged corruption during its tenure.
The BJP’s decisive victory in the February 5 election, winning 48 out of 70 seats, marked a dramatic shift in Delhi’s political landscape, reducing AAP’s seat count to 22. The Congress suffered another rout, failing to make a comeback.
Following her swearing-in on Thursday, Gupta and her six-member cabinet approved the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in Delhi, a scheme previously blocked by AAP. The new government also confirmed it would table 14 CAG reports scrutinizing the previous administration.
