People outside Delhi’s new CM Rekha Gupta’s residence at Shalimar Bagh.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

First came the cheers, then the salutations. The moment residents of AP Block in Shalimar Bagh watched first-time MLA Rekha Gupta take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday, shouts of joy echoed through the main street.

“Rekhaji ne poore block ko chamka diya hai (Rekhaji has beautified the entire block),” said Renu Singhal, 62, who lives a few houses away from the new Chief Minister’s residence at AP Block.

Calling the Chief Minister a “helpful neighbour”, Ms. Singhal said as an MCD councillor, Ms. Gupta installed street lights in the area to help keep residents safe on the dark narrow lanes.

Reeta Devi, 40, a part-time domestic help working in five houses in the area, including Ms. Gupta’s, said, “She always helped us and treated us as her family members. When my daughter was pregnant, she helped us with hospital arrangements.”

Another domestic help in the area, who did not wish to be named, contradicted this, saying that Ms. Gupta had “turned away” her when she asked for help.

Ms. Devi countered, saying, “During the COVID-19 lockdown, Rekha ji distributed free rations to many among us.”

She added that Ms. Gupta interacted with several residents of the area on Wednesday and told them that her doors would continue to be open to them.

Several area residents recalled that they had reached out to Ms. Gupta for vending licenses, Aadhaar cards, children’s admission to school and financial aid.

Teachers at a Delhi government school at the end of her lane said Ms. Gupta had visited the school on several occasions to offer all possible help.

Alma mater

At her alma mater, Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College, Ayushi Samal, a B.Com student, said “Our teachers told us that she [Ms. Gupta] was in our department and used to head the Commerce Association. It is such a proud moment for us.”

Deepika Jindal, a teacher at the college, said, “Her [Ms. Gupta’s] elevation has inspired all women at the college.”

DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, in a statement, said Ms. Gupta becoming the CM is a matter of “pride and respect” for the university, adding, “It will motivate students as they think that if an alum can make it, then they can do it too. It will change a lot of lives.”

Ms. Gupta studied at DU and joined Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in 1992. She served as a secretary and then the Delhi University Students’ Union president.