NEW DELHI: Rekha Gupta, BJP MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi on Thursday, marking the beginning of a new government in the capital under the BJP rule after 27 years. She took the oath of office alongside six BJP MLAs who have been appointed as cabinet ministers.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at Ramlila Maidan, was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister BJP President JP Nadda, and several chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.
According to a Union home ministry notification, President Droupadi Murmu, on the advice of chief minister Rekha Gupta, appointed BJP MLAs Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra, and Pankaj Kumar Singh as ministers in the Delhi government.
Who are Delhi’s six cabinet ministers who took oath today
Rekha Gupta
Parvesh Sahib Singh (New Delhi MLA)
Parvesh Sahib Singh, son of Delhi's former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, emerged victorious against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in a fierce electoral battle for the New Delhi constituency during the Assembly polls. Kejriwal, who had served three terms as Delhi's chief minister, lost his seat. Parvesh was considered the leading candidate for the position of Delhi's chief minister.
New Delhi constituency is where Kejriwal had previously defeated Sheila Dikshit in 2013, bringing an end to her 15-year tenure as chief minister. In the recent elections, Singh secured victory over Kejriwal with a margin of 4,089 votes. AAP raised concerns about voter list manipulation and accused Singh of distributing freebies during the Model Code of Conduct period.
During his campaign, the 47-year-old candidate made several commitments, including developing a Yamuna riverfront akin to Sabarmati, providing housing for slum residents, creating 50,000 government positions, constructing flyovers, and ensuring a pollution-free capital city.
Having served as West Delhi MP twice and Mehrauli MLA once, Singh has maintained his association with the BJP for nearly 30 years.
Ashish Sood (Janakpuri MLA)
Ashish Sood, a dedicated party leader, has held significant positions including councillorship and Leader of the House in the former South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). His responsibilities extended to managing BJP affairs in Goa and serving as co-in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir.
Having close ties with BJP national president J P Nadda and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Sood faced defeat in Janakpuri during 2020 but secured victory in the 2025 assembly elections with 19,000 votes lead.
His career progression included roles as general secretary in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, followed by promotion to national vice president. His appointment as secretary of BJP's Delhi unit in 2008 preceded his role as general secretary and subsequent election as SDMC councillor.
According to sources, Sood maintains strong support from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His involvement in politics commenced with the ABVP before advancing to party positions.
Kapil Mishra (Karawal Nagar MLA)
The 44-year-old leader, Kapil Mishra, stands as the sole member of the BJP cabinet with prior governmental experience, having served in the AAP cabinet from 2015 to 2017. His tenure ended after he raised corruption accusations against Kejriwal and the then PWD and health minister Satyendar Jain, leading to his expulsion from the party.
Following his switch to the BJP in 2019, he contested the 2020 Assembly elections from Model Town constituency, though unsuccessfully.
A prominent figure in Delhi politics, he is the son of former East Delhi BJP mayor Annapurna Mishra. His activism spans various causes, including campaigns against farmer suicides, Yamuna encroachment and the Commonwealth Games scandal. He has authored a publication titled "It's Common VS Wealth".
His political career saw further advancement when he was appointed as Delhi BJP vice-president in August 2023.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Manjinder Singh Sirsa is a well-known Sikh leader, influential in Delhi’s political and religious circles. He has previously served as the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and was an MLA from Rajouri Garden. In this election, he reclaimed the Rajouri Garden seat, defeating AAP’s Dhanwati Chandela by 18,190 votes.
Ravinder Indraj Singh
Ravinder Indraj Singh, son of former MLA Indraj Singh, represents the Bawana constituency in North Delhi. In the 2025 assembly elections, he secured 119,515 votes, defeating AAP’s Jai Bhagwan by 31,475 votes. His strong grassroots connect played a crucial role in his electoral success.
Pankaj Kumar Singh
Pankaj Kumar Singh represents the Vikaspuri constituency in South West Delhi. He secured 135,564 votes in the 2025 elections, defeating incumbent AAP MLA Mahinder Yadav by a margin of 12,876 votes. His victory reinforces BJP’s growing support in the region.
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