Delhi, the National Capital Territory (NCT) of India, has seen a dynamic political history since India’s independence in 1947. The position of Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi was established after the formation of the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1952. Since then, various leaders have governed the city, each playing a key role in shaping the capital’s development and governance.
Below is a detailed list of the Chief Ministers of Delhi after independence, along with their respective tenure periods:
1. Chaudhary Brahm Prakash (1952–1955)
- Tenure: March 17, 1952 – February 12, 1955
- Party: Indian National Congress
- Notable: The first Chief Minister of Delhi after the establishment of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. His tenure was marked by efforts to rebuild and develop the city post-independence.
2. Gurmukh Nihal Singh (1955–1956)
- Tenure: February 13, 1955 – October 31, 1956
- Party: Indian National Congress
- Notable: Second CM of Delhi. His tenure was short as the Delhi Legislative Assembly was abolished in 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, and Delhi became a Union Territory governed directly by the Central Government.
3. President’s Rule (1956–1993)
- After 1956, Delhi did not have an elected Chief Minister for a long period. The Union Territory was administered by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President of India, with the Central Government exercising direct control.
4. Chaudhary Sahib Singh Verma (1993–1996)
- Tenure: December 2, 1993 – June 26, 1996
- Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Notable: After the re-establishment of the Delhi Legislative Assembly under the National Capital Territory Act of 1991, he became the first CM of Delhi in the new political setup.
5. Saket Singh (Acting CM for a brief period in 1996)
- Tenure: June 27, 1996 – June 30, 1996
- Party: BJP
- Notable: Served as acting CM briefly after the resignation of Sahib Singh Verma.
6. Madhu Kishwar (Acting CM for a brief period in 1996)
- Tenure: July 1, 1996 – October 20, 1996
- Party: BJP
- Notable: Served as acting CM before the appointment of the next full-time Chief Minister.
7. Sushma Swaraj (1998)
- Tenure: October 13, 1998 – December 3, 1998
- Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Notable: First woman Chief Minister of Delhi. She served a short tenure before the assembly was dissolved.
8. President’s Rule (1998–2001)
- After the 1998 elections, due to a hung assembly and political instability, Delhi went under President’s rule for a period.
9. Sheila Dikshit (1998–2013)
- Tenure: December 3, 1998 – December 28, 2013
- Party: Indian National Congress
- Notable: The longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi, leading the city for 15 years. Her tenure is noted for major urban development, infrastructure projects, and improvements in public services.
10. President’s Rule (December 2013 – February 2015)
- Post Sheila Dikshit’s resignation following 2013 elections, due to a fractured mandate, Delhi was under President’s rule.
11. Arvind Kejriwal (2013–2014; 2015–2025)
- Tenure:
- First Term: December 28, 2013 – February 14, 2014
- Second Term: February 14, 2015 – February 19, 2025
- Party: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
- Notable: Founder of the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership brought a new political force to Delhi. His government focused on anti-corruption, education, health, and public welfare schemes.
12. Rekha Gupta (2025–Present)
- Tenure: February 20, 2025 – Present
- Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Notable: Rekha Gupta is the current Chief Minister of Delhi. She assumed office after BJP’s victory in the 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, ending a decade-long AAP government. She represents the Shalimar Bagh constituency and leads a BJP government focused on infrastructure development, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and environmental initiatives such as cleaning the Yamuna River.
Summary Table of Chief Ministers of Delhi
| No. | Chief Minister | Tenure Period | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaudhary Brahm Prakash | 17 March 1952 – 12 Feb 1955 | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | Gurmukh Nihal Singh | 13 Feb 1955 – 31 Oct 1956 | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | — President’s Rule | 1956 – 1993 | — |
| 4 | Chaudhary Sahib Singh Verma | 2 Dec 1993 – 26 June 1996 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 5 | Saket Singh (Acting) | 27 June 1996 – 30 June 1996 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 6 | Madhu Kishwar (Acting) | 1 July 1996 – 20 Oct 1996 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 7 | Sushma Swaraj | 13 Oct 1998 – 3 Dec 1998 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 8 | — President’s Rule | 1998 – 2001 | — |
| 9 | Sheila Dikshit | 3 Dec 1998 – 28 Dec 2013 | Indian National Congress |
| 10 | — President’s Rule | Dec 2013 – Feb 2015 | — |
| 11 | Arvind Kejriwal | 28 Dec 2013 – 14 Feb 2014; 14 Feb 2015 – 19 Feb 2025 | Aam Aadmi Party |
| 12 | Rekha Gupta | 20 Feb 2025 – Present | Bharatiya Janata Party |
Delhi’s political leadership has seen shifts across different parties and governance styles since independence. From early Congress leadership to BJP’s influence, the transformative Sheila Dikshit era, the rise of AAP with Arvind Kejriwal, and now BJP’s Rekha Gupta, Delhi continues to evolve as India’s capital under changing political dynamics.
Absolutely! Here are some important and interesting records/statistics related to the Chief Ministers of Delhi (New Delhi region included), highlighting unique achievements and notable facts:
Important Stats and Records of Chief Ministers of Delhi
1. Longest-serving Chief Minister
- Sheila Dikshit holds the record for the longest tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi.
- Duration: Nearly 15 years (December 3, 1998 – December 28, 2013).
- Her three consecutive terms brought massive urban infrastructure development and modernization in Delhi.
2. First Woman Chief Minister
- Sushma Swaraj was the first woman to become the Chief Minister of Delhi.
- Tenure: October 13, 1998 – December 3, 1998 (short tenure).
- Later, she served as a prominent Union Minister and External Affairs Minister of India.
3. Youngest Chief Minister
- Arvind Kejriwal became the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi when he first took office in 2013.
- Age at appointment: 44 years old.
4. First Chief Minister After Re-establishment of Delhi Assembly
- Chaudhary Sahib Singh Verma was the first CM after the 1993 re-establishment of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
- His tenure marked the return of elected government after nearly 37 years of President’s rule.
5. First Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Minister
- Arvind Kejriwal was the founder of AAP and became the first CM representing this new party in 2013.
- His governance style emphasized anti-corruption measures, education reform, and health initiatives.
6. Record Election Victory Margins
- Rekha Gupta in 2025 won her constituency, Shalimar Bagh, by a margin of over 29,000 votes, one of the largest victory margins in Delhi elections.
- Arvind Kejriwal also won multiple elections with significant margins, reflecting strong voter support during his terms.
7. Shortest Tenure
- Sushma Swaraj also holds the record for one of the shortest tenures, just about 50 days.
- Other short-term acting CMs like Saket Singh and Madhu Kishwar served for less than 4 months combined.
8. Number of Terms
- Sheila Dikshit served 3 consecutive terms (1998–2013).
- Arvind Kejriwal has served two separate stints: briefly in 2013-2014 and then from 2015 to 2025.
9. Political Party Representation
- Delhi’s Chief Ministers have primarily come from three parties: Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
- The political control has shifted multiple times reflecting Delhi’s dynamic electorate.
