Rekha Gupta’s Rise to Power
Rekha Gupta assumed office as Delhi’s Chief Minister in February 2025, becoming the fourth woman to lead the capital. Contesting from Shalimar Bagh on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, she secured victory by a margin of nearly 30,000 votes. With a long history in student and civic politics, including stints as Delhi University Students’ Union President and Mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Gupta’s rise to the top was marked by grassroots involvement and party loyalty.
Since taking charge, Gupta has launched key initiatives, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Jan Aushadhi Kendras to replace mohalla clinics, and presided over Delhi Assembly’s first fully paperless session. Her administration also secured more than ₹800 crore in central funding for development projects. Despite these moves, her tenure has recently been overshadowed by controversy involving her husband, Manish Gupta.
दिल्ली में फुलेरा स्टाइल सरकार‼️
CM @gupta_rekha जी के पति किस सरकारी जिम्मेदारी पद पर हैं❓
फिर वो अधिकारियों की ऑफिशियल मीटिंग्स क्यों ले रहे हैं❓
क्या सरकार को आपने मज़ाक बना दिया है⁉️@BJP4Delhi pic.twitter.com/JTWWS5bHfN
— Ranjeet Thakur AAP Delhi 🇮🇳 (@ThakurR87289874) September 7, 2025
Who Is Manish Gupta?
Manish Gupta, husband of the Chief Minister, is a businessman and social worker based in Delhi. According to Rekha Gupta’s 2025 election affidavit, he runs a firm named Nikunj Enterprises—likely after their son—and is also an agency associate with Kotak Life Insurance. His income sources include business, salary, share trading, interest, and commissions, with his declared total income for FY 2023–24 being ₹97 lakh. He also disclosed significant investments in bonds, debentures, NPS, LIC policies, and a cash reserve of ₹15.7 lakh.
The couple has two children, Harshita and Nikunj. Rekha Gupta has openly credited her husband for supporting her political career, saying earlier this year, “He did a lot for me.”
The AAP’s ‘Phulera Panchayat’ Allegation
Controversy erupted after images surfaced of Manish Gupta seated next to Rekha Gupta during an official review meeting in Shalimar Bagh. Shared by AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, the photos prompted accusations that the Chief Minister was replicating the “pradhan-pati” system common in Indian villages, where husbands of elected women representatives informally wield power. Drawing a parallel with the hit web series Panchayat, AAP likened Delhi’s administration to the fictional Phulera village, where the elected sarpanch is overshadowed by her husband.
Bhardwaj went further, alleging that Manish Gupta has even issued instructions to government officials, a claim AAP argues undermines democratic norms. Former CM Atishi had raised similar concerns earlier in April, when Manish Gupta was seen in a meeting with officials from the MCD, DJB, PWD, and DUSIB. At the time, Atishi warned that Delhi was being run by “two CMs.”
BJP’s Defence of Manish Gupta
The BJP has dismissed the AAP’s allegations, insisting that there is nothing unconstitutional about Manish Gupta’s presence. Party leaders argued that his role is that of a supportive spouse and social worker who voices local concerns. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva rebuked AAP’s remarks as “insulting” to Rekha Gupta, stressing her proven leadership trajectory from student politics to the Chief Minister’s office.
BJP leaders contend that the controversy is politically motivated, designed to discredit Gupta’s government at a time when it is introducing reforms and strengthening its foothold in Delhi politics.
The Larger Debate
The row over Manish Gupta’s presence has reignited broader debates about gender, democracy, and the symbolic role of elected women leaders. Critics argue that allowing unelected spouses to participate in official proceedings risks reviving patriarchal practices, while supporters see it as harmless spousal support. With the AAP and Congress pressing the issue, and the BJP holding firm in defence, the controversy is unlikely to subside soon.
For Rekha Gupta, the challenge lies in balancing her government’s developmental agenda with growing political scrutiny. Whether the issue fades as a passing controversy or escalates into a defining challenge of her tenure remains to be seen.
