Delhi's New Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Faces Backlash Over Old Social Media Posts

Image credits: AP Photo

Delhi's new Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been facing backlash over her old social media posts, which have resurfaced since her appointment to the top post. The posts, which date back to her time as a critic of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, feature memes and comments that mock former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. While supporters of Ms Gupta, a first-time MLA from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have shared the posts to celebrate her victory, critics have condemned the language used, describing it as inappropriate and abusive.

The controversy surrounding Ms Gupta's old posts has sparked a debate on social media, with some users defending her as a fierce and consistent critic of the AAP government. YouTuber Tushar Gupta, who runs the policy and politics channel 'The Atom', argued that Ms Gupta's posts were being targeted by "haters" who were uncomfortable with her taking on Mr Kejriwal and the AAP. However, others, including Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose, have expressed concern over the language used by Ms Gupta, comparing it unfavorably to the tone adopted by other female politicians such as Sheila Dixit and Sushma Swaraj. The BJP has maintained that Ms Gupta's posts were a legitimate form of criticism, while the AAP has accused her of using abusive language.

The backlash against Ms Gupta's old posts has also highlighted the challenges she faces as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. The BJP won 48 seats in the 70-member assembly, putting an end to the AAP's decade-long rule in the city. Ms Gupta has promised to fulfill key election promises, including continuing welfare schemes and addressing Delhi's pollution and infrastructure issues. However, she will also have to navigate the complexities of Delhi's politics, where the AAP and other opposition parties are likely to pose significant challenges to her government.

Some of the key policy points that Ms Gupta's government is expected to focus on include: * Fulfilling key election promises, such as providing free health services and a monthly stipend to poor women * Continuing welfare schemes of the previous AAP government * Finding a solution to Delhi's pollution and infrastructure issues * Cleaning the River Yamuna * Revamping government schools The BJP's victory in Delhi has been seen as a boost for the party, which had failed to secure a majority in last year's national election. However, the party will have to work hard to deliver on its promises and address the challenges facing the city, including the need for more women in leadership positions.

The controversy surrounding Ms Gupta's old social media posts has also sparked a wider debate about the role of women in Indian politics. Ms Gupta is the fourth female Chief Minister of Delhi, and one of the few women to hold a top position in the BJP. While the party has made efforts to promote women's participation in politics, including offering tickets to female candidates and supporting initiatives on women's welfare, more needs to be done to address the underrepresentation of women in Indian politics. A law requiring 33% female membership in legislatures is expected to be implemented by 2029, but until then, women like Ms Gupta will have to navigate the challenges of a male-dominated political landscape.