Delhi CM Rekha Gupta is guest at Adda today

No stranger to the city’s politics, Gupta started out as a student leader with the ABVP in the early 1990s and went on to serve as president of the Delhi University Students’ Union in 1996-97.

The Shalimar Bagh MLA entered the city’s electoral politics in 2007, when she was elected as a councillor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). She made it to MCD House twice again before being chosen as Chief Minister.

In March, she announced several schemes as part of an ambitious budget estimate of Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time, big ticket announcements ranging from a clean Yamuna to pothole-free roads, and more recently, regulation on private school fees.

Gupta’s tenure so far has also seen an emphasis on improving road and health infrastructure, and on adopting Central schemes. With emphasis on increased coordination with the Centre, she has met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah as well as other Union ministers, especially on issues such as cleaning of the Yamuna, road infrastructure, law and order and health.

Within days of taking oath, Gupta and her ministers also cleared the decks for the adoption of the Ayushman Bharat insurance as well as the health infrastructure upgrade schemes. This was followed by the BJP wresting control of the MCD from AAP, the previous ruling party in Delhi, essentially giving the city a “triple-engine” BJP government.

Among the challenges she faces in the months to come is balancing people’s expectations and her government’s development mantra, and delivering on  promises such as Rs 2,500 aid for women and cleaning the Yamuna.

At Express Adda, Gupta will be in conversation with Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express.

The Express Adda is a series of informal interactions organised by The Indian Express Group and features those at the centre of change. Previous guests include Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, philanthropist Bill Gates and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.